So, I was talking to somebody earlier about blog topics and they suggested I write about the details of my disability. Now, normally I wouldn't blog on this, but my friend was quite keen on the topic. I mean, it's obvious I don't walk, what other explanation is needed? I love when I'm at the mall or something and somebody nervously says, "Um, could I ask what's wrong with him?" They don't ask me, they ask whoever's with me. Questions like that don't bother me, as the person asking is either really gutsy, or really stupid and thus deserving of my pity. Either way, I never reply meanly. I usually say something funny, like "I'm fine, are you ok?" or "Nothing, why do you ask?" I actually have a hoody that reads, "I'm not disabled, I'm just lazy". Then, of course, I give a more informative answer.
Basically, I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy, meaning the signals from my brain don't make it to my muscles strongly enough, causing the unused muscles to atrophy. I'm sort of a celebrity to doctors, as they almost never see SMA. A doctor could literally go their entire carreer without seeing one such as me. I'm also unique in that I can breath pretty much on my own. Yay! I have a little machine called a BiPAP, but I can be off of it and not drop dead. Not that the drop would be far. That's pretty much the gist of my gimpyness. Boring, no?
Posted by Mike at March 30, 2005 11:53 PM"They don't ask me, they ask whoever's with me."
You're kidding. I know you're not, but still.
" I'm sort of a celebrity to doctors, as they almost never see SMA."
I always thought you were a celeb because of your mad political/Apple connections. Ask that rich Senator to get me a G5 already. Or at least a decent laptop - I still lug the IBM Thinkpad to Macworld on a yearly basis, mua ha ha.
You think you have it bad? I have 11 toes. People freak out if I walk around barefoot. ;)
Posted by: Eddie at March 31, 2005 11:39 AM