How's Hanna doing? What's she saying? Anything I can do?

Hanna has an encounter

A place for Hanna to communicate with family and friends as she learns to live with ALS.

How's Hanna doing?

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Latest update

August 24, 2023

Update: Back pain, South Africa, and tadpoles

As ALS weakens her core strength, Hanna increasingly has to cope with back pain (along with other progressive symptoms). Meanwhile she is in South Africa with dear family and all the joys of home. Her experience continues to mix this joy of life with physical difficulty and the anguish of loss. Eish! (as they say in South Africa)

See all updates

Want to help?

There are many ways to help, whether you live near or far.

Purchase or deliver a meal or groceries
Send Hanna money for everyday needs (PayPal)
Contribute to a fund for her future medical and support expenses

See the “Ways to Help” page for more details.

Ways to help

Hanna's writing

Hanna has been writing about gratitude and grief, including reflections on this “encounter.” Here are her most recent posts.

Traveling to Ireland

Hanna makes her first international trip since her diagnosis, and unfortunately discovers the seams between systems of support. Fortunately she was able to navigate the discomforts, but what does this say about our collective treatment of those in the margins?

A view of the campus at Trinity College Dublin

How to get through the first 17 hours after learning you have ALS

Written as a step-by-step how-to guide, this essay documents Hanna's experience through the first few hours after hearing her diagnosis of probable ALS.

See all writings