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September is CMT Awareness Month in the United States — a dedicated time to share and educate others about Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). CMT is one of the most commonly inherited neurological disorders, affecting approximately 1 in 2,500 people in the U.S., according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders…

My memories of physicians first explaining the details of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) to me are hazy at best. I remember something about nerves, and of messages having difficulty going from my brain to my extremities. I remember not feeling weak. But I also remember that the folks poking me and…

“Chongxi.” It’s a Chinese term referring to the superstitious custom of trying to erase a misfortune by overriding it with a joyous event or feeling. I stumbled upon this phrase a few weeks ago when my parents and I were listening to an episode…

I love fall and the start of the new school year. It’s when I return to teaching and readjust to a routine of work, school, and activities. But summer’s end can be overwhelming, and even more so with a disability. I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and am finding some aspects…

For the first time, I posted a picture of me with my cane and braces on social media. And guess what? No one even noticed. This is a big deal. I talk about Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) and my ankle-foot orthoses, but showing the world is scary. People can be cruel…

I am not fashion-savvy and don’t really follow the latest trends. However, I enjoy scrolling through Instagram to see the latest fashion blogs. I love to look at the cute outfits but quickly realize that I can’t wear them. These fashion influencers and bloggers are fun to follow and…

“If they’re really thinking about their audience, and if they provide water bottles, they’ll also have hand grips there,” my father said, as he drove my sister and I along familiar roads on our way to Whetstone Park — an old, beautiful community…

It’s going to rain today! I can tell because the pain in my joints tells me. Does your body hurt when the weather changes? Can you feel that it is going to rain even before you hear the weather report? If so, you are not alone. Is there a scientific…

I was the only Asian-American on my college study-abroad trip to China that year. I couldn’t speak much Mandarin at all, but still, I could recognize the absurdity when a classmate suggested I hold up the sign we created that said in Chinese, “Please point us in the…

“Are those rattlesnake protectors?” I am getting used to the stares and comments about my ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), but this one kind of threw me for a loop. I just looked at the gentleman for a minute before I realized he was talking about my Arizona Braces. My not-so-thought-out…