by Joan Palmer
October 2003
Webmaster's note: Joan is happy to communicate about her experiences by email - if you would like to get in touch, please email me directly, using the link at the bottom of every page, and I will pass your message on to Joan along with your email address.
My name is Joan Palmer and I live in Kensington, Maryland, USA. I am 53 years of age and wasa diagnosed with SMA Type III, 27 years ago with the birth of my first child, Tamsyn. My husband Tom and I have been married 30 years and have 3 beautiful children 2 girls and 1 boy, ages 15 to 27 and a darling 2 year old granddaughter. I work full time managing a high school bookstore. I'm writing to let those diagnosed with SMA III or the parents of someone diagnosed with SMA know that they can live a full and happy life.
I am still walking most of the time unless we are going somewhere where there will be lots of walking and then we pull out my scooter. While life sometimes gets difficult and frustrating, my family has always helped me see the bright and funny side of things while helping me adapt to new challenges. I had a hysterectomy last summer and for some unknown reason it has made the disease progress to the point that I am now seriously contemplating using an electric chair in the near future. The decision was hard for me because I've always been independent and this past year has seen that come to a close. I need to have someone with me outside of the house to help with balance and sometimes it seems like to much trouble to go out as much as I used to do. My husband helped me to realize that using a chair will make me more independent because we can adapt our van so that I can come and go as I please by myself. So something that I always feared (using a wheel chair) turns out to be something that will ultimately be to my advantage.
I guess I want to let others know that someone with SMA can be happily married, can succesfully become pregnant and have healthy children and can lead a happy life. When I was diagnosed all those years ago, I was told that I would be in a wheel chair by the time I wahis 30 years old. That did not happen and 27 years later, I'm still mucking along. I wouldn't be truthful if I told you that I never get down about the situation but those times pass. I think that not being able to run with my own children, participate in sports with my husband and not being able to carry my granddaughter have been my saddest regrets but one look into the eyes of anyone that I helped bring into this world or looking into my husbands eyes filled with love, lets me know how very blessed I am. | 
