CMT and Me — Jill Price

Last weekend, I realized how tough it is to do certain things due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). It affects my balance, coordination, gait, and dexterity in my hands. That means that simple things like putting on jewelry or…

A lot of people on the internet are talking about the benefits of celery juice. Scores of people, including celebrities, claim to feel better after drinking 16 ounces of pure celery juice each morning. Some claim that it gives…

The other day, someone posed the question, “What do you hate the most about having Charcot-Marie-Tooth?” I could probably write a book about what I hate about this disease. The same person also asked, “What do you like…

Why do people tell me they are proud of me for going to the gym? Is that something that I should be proud of? Yes, it is true that going to the gym and working out is not always…

After walking around Jamestown Settlement this past week, I’m really wondering how much longer I, as a schoolteacher, can go on these big field trips. I am not one of those people who uses my disability as an…

At my Weight Watchers meeting, the coach asked us what activities we would do if we had no restrictions. I began thinking about it. I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A and wear ankle-foot orthoses; therefore, I am somewhat…

I recently read a post on social media about “mom confessions”: the good, bad, and ugly things we do as moms. Trust me, I have my fair share of those confessions. I began to think about it in…

This week at Friday night services, my rabbi’s sermon was about the Torah portion Leviticus 14:1-15:33 and how people were excluded because of illness. He spoke about the isolation and exclusion caused by their illness. This…

When you have a chronic illness, finding a doctor who is knowledgeable about your condition can be a long process. Depending on your disease it may be difficult to locate a medical expert close to where you…

I heard Brad Paisley’s “Letter to Me” the other day. It got me thinking about what I would tell my younger self about growing up with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) 1a. Dear younger self, First of all, everything…

Ableism is discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities. It can occur in many ways — some ways subtle and others overt. A person with a disability may experience ableism as unwelcome stares or a building…

The Center for Eating Disorders defines body image as the “subjective picture or mental image of one’s own body.” It is how one feels about their body, and can be positive or negative. Having a positive…