Second in a series on visiting Disney World with a disability. Read part one. Big crowds make me nervous. Should someone bump into me, I can easily lose my balance. And the risk of infection weighs heavily on me, given my weakened immune system. A nearby sneeze triggers…

The phrase “fake it till you make it” is meant to encourage self-confidence. During many tough moments in my life, like learning to walk again, I’ve relied on this phrase. There are moments when I don’t feel good, but I’ll fake it and say I feel fine. Sometimes saying how…

Trying something new will always intimidate me. While my head might feel prepared, my body doesn’t always cooperate. This year my husband and I agreed to take in a homestay teenager who is studying dance at the same studio as our young daughter, Sophie. Sydney, our 15-year-old homestay daughter, is…

As a neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patient, sometimes I am under the impression that I am at a disadvantage compared with my healthy co-workers. Some of the daily routines that they complete effortlessly are a struggle for me. For this reason, at the end of my workday, I often feel as…

In early April, I became a grandmother (Gigi) for the first time. Reaching this important milestone gave me pause. In the months leading up to the baby’s birth, I thought a lot about what kind of grandmother I would be. Phoenyx was born just 16 days after my 50th birthday,…

My quest to become a wheelchair owner and user began with pitching the idea to members of my care team. As I shared in my last column, that didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped. But being persistent paid off when one of my doctors stepped up and…