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Two months ago, I had an interesting conversation with my eye doctor while she looked at photos of my eyes. “Do you have joint pain?” Yes, I have chronic hip and ankle pain due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth, I told her. “Do you have trouble sleeping?” Yes, all the…

Mom guilt will always get you. Why do I feel guilty when I cannot do something or be somewhere for my son? It’s probably because society has this ideal for moms. We are expected to be everywhere and do everything. Social media sites like Pinterest can add…

I constantly say sorry by instinct and without reason. I’ve even been apologizing for my disability. No more apologies! I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Type 1A and I wear ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) to help with stability and walking. At times I use a cane if I’m walking or standing…

The other day, I watched a video about the late Claire Wineland. In it, she said many people believe that if someone is sick or disabled, they must be unhappy. When someone who is sick or disabled receives that type of message over and over, they may…

“Fair does not mean equal.” I always start the school year by teaching my class that concept. I start by giving each student a paper with the name of an injury or illness written on it. Then, they visit the “nurse,” and I give each of them a…

I was released from physical therapy, finally! Don’t get me wrong, I liked my physical therapist, even though he made me work hard during our 45 minutes together each week. So, what did I gain from physical therapy? I feel like I gained…

How do you know you are important to people? What is a sign that you are not only loved but really important to them? The other day, my dearest friend told me she was getting a tattoo. I thought, “OK, that is great, I’m…

In my continuing ankle-foot orthosis journey, I picked up my new AFO for my left foot. It has been a very different experience from where I started this journey.   The journey began in December 2017…

My 14-year-old son has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, but you would never know it. He is an active, adventurous, and goofy teenager who does not let CMT stop him from doing anything. When he was learning to walk, we noticed some minor issues…

“I appreciate the struggle. I have mobility issues, too.” A person I had just met said this to me one day. I was uncertain about what she meant. Did she think I struggled with things? Did she think I…