Posts by: Ari Anderson

Ari Anderson

July 28, 2022July 28, 2022

Bringing Awareness to the Challenges and Successes of Living With SMA

SMA Awareness Month is coming up in August. The question for me is, what’s the best way to raise awareness about this disease? My thoughts are that it is best ... Read more

June 30, 2022June 30, 2022

Miraculous Innovations Paving the Way for Those With Rare Diseases

COVID-19 Columns, SMA News Today Columns

One day about 15 years ago, I was watching a funny show. It was lighthearted and entertaining, yet one comment made me think seriously. It still does. A person said, ... Read more

June 16, 2022June 16, 2022

Reconnecting With Old Friends and Other Personal Callings

SMA News Today Columns

At first glance, my life may seem unusual. The more people get to know me, though, the more they’ll see that I share many of the same problems and emotions ... Read more

June 16, 2022June 21, 2022

Reconnecting With Old Friends and Other Personal Callings

SMA News Today Columns

At first glance, my life may seem unusual. The more people get to know me, though, the more they’ll see that I share many of the same problems and emotions ... Read more

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

A Lesson in Hospital Etiquette: Let’s Forgive Others, Not Judge Them

SMA News Today Columns

Here comes the latest adventure in the saga to remove my kidney stones. Spoiler alert: I came close to leaping over the hurdle of getting the surgery done. Unfortunately, though, ... Read more

April 21, 2022April 21, 2022

Embracing the Coexistence of Joy and Sorrow

COVID-19 Columns, SMA News Today Columns

While reflecting on my life today, a witty phrase popped into my head. I laughed to myself as I thought, “I don’t have to go looking for trouble, trouble will ... Read more

March 31, 2022March 31, 2022

Advocacy Starts With Being Kind to Yourself

SMA News Today Columns

Today, I thought about the question, “How can I become a better advocate?” For the first time, I realized that I’d taken part in advocacy activities even when I didn’t ... Read more

March 17, 2022March 17, 2022

My Beautiful Journey Toward Personal Growth

SMA News Today Columns

Today I want to talk more about my outlook on life, as well as yours. Hopefully, nobody who regularly reads what I write ever comes away thinking that I have ... Read more

February 24, 2022February 24, 2022

Celebrating the Inner Strength of People With Rare Diseases

SMA News Today Columns

An object is often considered rare when it has unique, sought-after qualities. But Rare Disease Day, observed on Feb. 28, is about people, not objects. Those of us with rare ... Read more

February 17, 2022February 17, 2022

Am I in Control, or Is My Chair?

SMA News Today Columns

Years before the pandemic, I was visiting a museum in Washington, D.C. A young child looked at me and my high-tech wheelchair. He then asked my mom, “Is he real?” ... Read more

January 27, 2022January 27, 2022

Special People Enter Our Lives at Unexpected Moments

SMA News Today Columns

We all experience moments that change our destiny. For me, it might have been learning whether I had passed a major college exam. For others, it might be the moment ... Read more

January 20, 2022January 20, 2022

Preparing for Surgery, I Search for a New Mantra

SMA News Today Columns

I like the saying, “It’s always darkest before the dawn,” but I think it’s overused. We should come up with other phrases that mean the same thing so that the ... Read more

December 30, 2021December 30, 2021

The Blessings That Spark My Ambitions for the New Year

SMA News Today Columns

I’ve recently learned about two kinds of achievements in life. One is when you’re up a creek in a bad situation, but miraculously, things seem to resolve on their own. ... Read more

December 16, 2021December 16, 2021

How to Make the Joy of Christmas Last All Year Long

SMA News Today Columns

As Christmas and the end of the year draw near, I’m reflecting on what 2021 has meant to me. If I look at the past year through a pessimistic lens, ... Read more

November 18, 2021November 18, 2021

Time Is a Balancing Act, Let’s Learn How to Do It Together

SMA News Today Columns

From my perspective, time is a more important resource to me than money. It’s all about spending my time wisely on the important things so that I can get a ... Read more