Powering Through Pompe
— Keara Engle

Back in May, I wrote about searching for a more accessible playground for my 5-year-old son, Cayden. My wish seems to have come true, and I couldn’t be happier! A few weeks ago,…

Over the years, I’ve had to make countless hard decisions for my 5-year-old son, Cayden, who has infantile-onset Pompe disease. He’s had surgeries, adaptive equipment, and appointments that haven’t been easy. I…

My 5-year-old son, Cayden, will soon be getting a new kindergarten teacher. While this will be a big adjustment for all the children in his class, it will be a bit harder for…

My 5-year-old son, Cayden, has been through more in his few years of life than most adults have in all of theirs. When he was diagnosed with infantile-onset Pompe disease via…

I’ve become so used to my routines that when an abrupt change happens, it throws me off. Recently, a substitute nurse filled in for the one who usually attends school with my 5-year-old son,…

I’ve been on the hunt for adaptive clothing for years now. My 5-year-old son, Cayden, does fine with regular clothes, but that’s only because we’ve learned how to make it work. Adaptive clothing…

My 5-year-old son, Cayden, has seen a nutritionist his entire life. In his younger years, this was important because Cayden was underweight. Recently, he has gained weight, but the visits are still necessary…

For years, it’s been evident that my 5-year-old son, Cayden, has extremely sensitive skin. We first noticed the issue during one of his hospitalizations as a baby. We were at the children’s hospital…

My 5-year-old son, Cayden, is on track with most children his age when it comes to height and weight. But we struggled with his weight for years. He was labeled “failure to thrive”…

Today is my son Cayden’s first day of kindergarten — a milestone I’ve been anticipating since he was born. While I’m ready for the break, watching him grow up is bittersweet. Kindergarten feels…

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…

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…