On My Own Two — Young Lee

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…

“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…

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…

A few days ago, I found myself searching online for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) memes. While my actions might seem a bit juvenile, I needed a laugh. I was also looking for some insight into the CMT community — this group of people to which I belong due to the nature…

In April 1977 more than 100 people with disabilities entered the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) office in San Francisco and, in protest, they refused to leave.  Three years prior, Congress had passed Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act…

I remember being a moody preteen and exasperating my tennis instructor. He was convinced that I wasn’t trying. I was slow to react and sluggish on the court. I didn’t seem to be giving it my all. And, to be fair, he was right. I know I could have given…

“Referred mainly because of toe-walking.”  “Well, these few words solve a bit of a mystery for me,” I thought. A few weeks ago, I contacted my former pediatrician’s office to see if they had my old medical records. My folks have always kept good…

Jamal Hill likes to keep a busy schedule. After all, he’s hoping to qualify for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. And although he’s currently the No. 1 ranked U.S. Men’s Paralympic swimmer in the 100-meter freestyle, he isn’t yet guaranteed a spot in the Paralympics. I…

Linda Crabtree’s autobiography, “CMT and Me,” begins with loving descriptions of her parents. Her words, accompanied by childhood photos printed on the pages, gave me a vivid sense of what kind of people her parents were. I was eager to lose myself in Crabtree’s imagery of growing up…

Five years ago, I had a conversation with one of my writer friends. I had heard through the grapevine that she was working on a new story: a thriller featuring a protagonist with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). I was surprised at her choice of lead character because CMT isn’t a well-known…

When I meet up with old college friends, we often spend time reminiscing. We recall late nights, trips, and past relationships. Looking back, we think about how much has changed in our lives; our careers, relationships, and bodies have altered a lot in the decade since graduation.