Dedicated to the grieving families of Seth Poling and Sandra W. Marlowe. May peace be with you. Does anyone ever sit in the place the missing loved ones had at the table? No. It will never just be a chair again. I had a place, you had a place, but that chair that was your … Continue reading The Empty Chair
Tag: Grief
Can AI Voice Cloning Be Used For Good?
Photo by Polina Kovaleva on Pexels.com I'm pleased to present the link to the story for which I was recently interviewed, "Can AI Voice Cloning Be Used For Good?" by Kaleef Starks, Mark Armendariz-Gonzales, and Clera Rodrigues. The interview focused on the changes ALS has caused in my communication, as well as my experience with … Continue reading Can AI Voice Cloning Be Used For Good?
Eight Years In…
Photo by Hakan Erenler on Pexels.com Eight years ago on June 8th, I was diagnosed with ALS. At diagnosis, I was given 2 - 5 years to live. We all are. I was just 28 years old. After my diagnosis, I immediately said goodbye because that's what I was told to do. I was told … Continue reading Eight Years In…
My Depression Diary
3 4 4 4 2 Trigger Warning! Forward: When just over a month ago I sensed that my mind was changing, I was overcome with a frenzied need to record everything I thought and felt. Even before I understood that I was depressed, I realized I was going somewhere that outsiders could never truly visit. … Continue reading My Depression Diary
Fortune’s Fool
When I was sixteen, a fortune teller at a fair predicted I would meet and fall in love with a man who would physically take care of me. At the time, I didn’t understand what she could possibly mean. Would I rely on my husband for money? I was hungry for independence and therefore a … Continue reading Fortune’s Fool
A Pashmina For My Appendix
Today I bought shoes for the first time since my diagnosis. It was also the first time I bought shoes I would not actually wear for walking. My new sandals will just serve as a barrier between the soles of my feet and my wheelchair's foot plates. No more worries about arch support or gaping … Continue reading A Pashmina For My Appendix
The Kingdom of Childhood
For some reason, this lovely spring weather makes me remember all the things I love about teaching: morning meeting and yoga, book club and literature circles, zumba and dance breaks every half hour to keep our energy flowing, writing workshops, and of course, just being with the kids. Listening when recess ended in tears, geeking … Continue reading The Kingdom of Childhood
A Brave New World
On June 10, 2015, I shared this message with my loved ones… “Dear family and friends: I am so sorry to have to tell to you that today I was diagnosed with ALS. I am sad and scared, but also hopeful that I will live longer than the average ALS patient because mine is a … Continue reading A Brave New World
How I Live Now: Life With ALS 