On My Own Two by Young Lee

Young is a writer with CMT 1A living in Cary, North Carolina. He graduated from NC State University in 2013 with degrees in economics and international studies. After working for a few years in finance, Lee decided to shift his attention toward writing and library studies. Although Lee first learned he had CMT at a very young age, he didn’t participate much in the CMT community until 2018, when his friend and fellow BioNews writer, Kevin Schaefer, encouraged him to explore and learn more about this very important aspect of his life.

November 10, 2020November 6, 2020

Sometimes I Struggle to Find the Right Words to Describe CMT

Columns, On My Own Two by Young Lee

It’s the reason I wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Charcot-Marie-Tooth” to begin with: to spread awareness and to encourage questions. But when I heard a voice behind ... Read more

November 3, 2020October 30, 2020

Learning to Actively Pursue the Light at the End of the Tunnel

Columns, On My Own Two by Young Lee

Many folks are familiar with the saying that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a nice expression that refers to the fact that unfortunate ... Read more

October 20, 2020October 16, 2020

A Spa Trip Reminded Me of the Importance of Being Present

Columns, On My Own Two by Young Lee

I never considered myself high-strung or irritable until I entered a spa for the first time last weekend. The employees spoke in such hushed and relaxed tones that I ... Read more

October 13, 2020October 9, 2020

Playing Piano Helps My Fingers Stay Active

Columns, On My Own Two by Young Lee

I last sat on my piano bench over a year ago. For most of the past year, I had been neglecting the bench’s original purpose by stacking library books ... Read more

September 29, 2020September 25, 2020

Finding a Cure for CMT Won’t Stop Ableism

Columns, On My Own Two by Young Lee

Is it wrong for me to say that I find Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) undesirable? Is it entirely due to internalized ableism when I say I wish I did not ... Read more

September 15, 2020September 11, 2020

I’m Rediscovering the Mental and Emotional Benefits of Exercise

Columns, On My Own Two by Young Lee

I don’t like going to the gym. But, I like being at the gym. And I really love returning from the gym. I reconfirmed these facts last week. A ... Read more

September 8, 2020September 4, 2020

When I Was a Kid, I Dreaded Gym Class

Columns, On My Own Two by Young Lee

Thoughts and memories of recess games and gym classes rolled into my mind last week as I flipped through the pages of “The Ables,” a young adult novel by ... Read more

September 1, 2020August 28, 2020

My Grandmother Reminds Me to Give CMT a Fight

Columns, On My Own Two by Young Lee

My paternal grandmother turned 97 this week. As much as I would have liked to be with her to celebrate her birthday, I’m trying to limit my in-person contact ... Read more

August 25, 2020August 21, 2020

The Wariness That Comes With Disability

Columns, On My Own Two by Young Lee

Although there are many words to describe the disabled experience, I’ve been thinking a lot about the word “wariness” this week. Many of us in the disabled community are ... Read more

August 4, 2020July 31, 2020

Trying to Better Manage the Little Frustrations

Columns, On My Own Two by Young Lee

I was manning three active burners on the stovetop, deep into my food preparation for the week. On one of the front burners was a pan of chicken skins ... Read more