Columns

A couple months ago, I shared with readers about a new technology I was trying out for physical therapy, a powered exoskeleton suit called HAL — for Hybrid Assistive Limb — designed by the company Cyberdyne. It’s used by the RISE Healthcare Group, of which SoCal Elite…

I’m sure most people in the U.S. have heard of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination in all areas of life. It became law in 1990, and its sole purpose is to ensure that people with disabilities are…

In elementary school, my teacher would often ask the class, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Many kids responded that they hoped to be a doctor, lawyer, veterinarian, or firefighter. Me? I wanted to be a professional football player — specifically, the defensive end who rushes…

A few weeks ago, my grandparents and I purchased a wagon for my kids. I have a 5-year-old son, Cayden, and a 7-month-old son, Kyree. I’ve wanted a wagon for them for quite some time now, and we were finally able to make it happen. While this may not seem…

When I was a kid, I liked to build things with Legos and Lincoln Logs. I had Tinker Toys and Erector sets to build cars, cranes, buildings, and more. All of the blocks, bricks, and logs were of different sizes and shapes, and when they were put together, I had…

My 5-year-old son, Cayden, recently had a swallow study done for the first time since he was 3. Although he cooperated much better this time, we still didn’t get the desired results. When he was younger, Cayden required many swallow studies due to his infantile-onset Pompe disease. Because…

I remember a day when I could play three softball games on a single, sunny Sunday afternoon in Spokane, Washington. As a valuable left-hander, I was allowed to pitch and spend more time on the mound. Granted, these experiences were in my 30s, and the league was co-ed and affiliated…

My 5-year-old son, Cayden, had a blast in preschool this year and made lots of new friends. I was nervous he wouldn’t make any because he’s a bit different from the other children in his class. However, I quickly realized I had nothing to worry about. Cayden has…

Life has been busy lately. My wife and I traveled to Spokane, Washington, in June for our son Devin’s high school graduation, and then our friends from Montana visited us in Southern California for a week. I also saw my neuromuscular specialist and did some routine six-month tests and…

Having two young children has already been quite an experience. They depend on me every single day, though, thankfully, they’re pretty easygoing. I’d been a little nervous about their almost five-year age gap, but the way they’ve formed a bond has been amazing to witness. It’s so sweet to watch…