Posts by: Alyssa Silva

Alyssa Silva

July 29, 2022July 29, 2022

My Most Comfortable Position Makes Me Feel Uncomfortable

Before I began writing today’s column, I recorded video interviews for a rather well-known brand here in the United States, focusing on my role as chief creative officer at an ... Read more

July 15, 2022July 15, 2022

The Best Unorthodox Advice From My Doctor

SMA News Today Columns

When you’re living with a complicated disease such as SMA, it’s half the battle to have a knowledgeable and trustworthy medical team helping to manage everything. I’ve always been fortunate ... Read more

June 10, 2022June 21, 2022

How the Formula Shortage Has Affected Me as Someone With SMA

SMA News Today Columns

Whether it has directly affected you or not, chances are you’ve heard about the formula shortage happening in the United States right now. It’s a serious issue, one that has ... Read more

June 10, 2022June 10, 2022

How the Formula Shortage Has Affected Me as Someone With SMA

SMA News Today Columns

Whether it has directly affected you or not, chances are you’ve heard about the formula shortage happening in the United States right now. It’s a serious issue, one that has ... Read more

May 27, 2022May 27, 2022

Avoiding COVID-19 Exposure Is Like a Game of Dodgeball

COVID-19 Columns, SMA News Today Columns

While most of my elementary school days are a bit fuzzy in my head, lately I can’t stop thinking about how we used to play dodgeball during gym class. Our ... Read more

May 27, 2022June 21, 2022

Avoiding COVID-19 Exposure Is Like a Game of Dodgeball

COVID-19 Columns, SMA News Today Columns

While most of my elementary school days are a bit fuzzy in my head, lately I can’t stop thinking about how we used to play dodgeball during gym class. Our ... Read more

May 13, 2022May 13, 2022

Overcoming Roadblocks to Chase My Dreams With SMA

SMA News Today Columns

For most of my teenage and early adult years, I had big dreams of working in fashion. As a creative person, the behind-the-scenes work always intrigued me the most. I ... Read more

April 29, 2022April 29, 2022

Adapting to My NJ Feeding Tube

SMA News Today Columns

Lying in a hospital bed, I watched as a nurse demonstrated how to use a nasojejunal tube (NJ tube) to my parents. I could tell they were nervous. They learned ... Read more

April 15, 2022April 15, 2022

Finding Somewhere Between Burnout and Balance

SMA News Today Columns

I’ve been having trouble coming up with a topic for this column. Perhaps I shouldn’t open with that, but stay with me here. At first, I blamed it on writer’s ... Read more

March 11, 2022March 11, 2022

I Am Here, and That Is Enough

SMA News Today Columns

As I prepare to write my first column in over a month, a nasojejunal tube is pumping food into my small intestine, reminding me I’m not out of the woods ... Read more

January 28, 2022January 28, 2022

Facing New Challenges Gives Me Clarity and Control Over My Life

SMA News Today Columns

For nearly two years, my days have been filled with health problems. Well, I’ve always had health battles to deal with, but in recent years, they seem to have amplified, ... Read more

January 14, 2022January 14, 2022

Staying Organized Helps Me Simplify Life With SMA

SMA News Today Columns

Before I dive into this column about how the art of organization keeps my life balanced, I believe a disclaimer is necessary. After all, no matter the number of “Queer ... Read more

January 7, 2022January 7, 2022

Reflecting on a Year Gone By Brings Me Gratitude

COVID-19 Columns, SMA News Today Columns

Like many others at the turn of the year, I enjoy setting aside some time to reflect on the past 365 days. I’ve never been the goal-setting type at the ... Read more

December 10, 2021December 10, 2021

Cherishing Togetherness During the Holidays

SMA News Today Columns

Every year at Christmastime, my family carries out one of my favorite traditions. We all gather in the living room — my parents, brother, his wife and kids, and me ... Read more

December 3, 2021December 3, 2021

Being Rare Is All I’ve Ever Known

SMA News Today Columns

If you were to sort through my medical records, you would notice that some of the files list my diagnosis as “SMA I/II.” I had a good chuckle the first ... Read more