I hope to fall in love one day. But as I get farther and farther away from 40, the prospect of being in a relationship feels more like a dream than reality. My social life involving the opposite sex has been virtually non-existent over the past two decades. Sure, I've asked girls out. Yes, I have “gone out” with girls, but never on an actual date. For one reason or another, my wheels and feet eventually get firmly planted in the "friend zone." Now, my lack of "rizz" notwithstanding, an article I recently came across has me thinking my soul-crushing shyness isn't the only problem I will need to ..read more

Another Arizona Cardinals season is upon us. If you’ve been reading up on the upcoming season for Arizona, things aren’t looking good. Many prognosticators are picking the Cardinals to finish dead last and have one of the worst teams in the league. Unfortunately, this isn’t unfamiliar territory for this organization. And for this Cardinals fan, it’s an all too familiar feeling. Guess it’s time to party like it’s 1999. My family and I have had season tickets since the team moved to Arizona in the late 80s. As a kid, Sundays at Sun Devil Stadium were a tradition. A time to cheer on our favorite ..read more

As a quadriplegic, I can’t do many things on my own. I’m what my social worker calls a “total assist.” From getting up in the morning to turning the page of a book, I need help with most daily tasks. With that in mind, you would think asking for help would be second nature. But it absolutely terrifies me. These moments happen more often than you think. And it happens during different occasions and situations. It occurs mostly during group activities. Someone will notice me perched in a corner or away from the group and ask if I need help. I smile politely and respond with a calm, “no thanks, I ..read more

It happened 25 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 14 years old and fighting a cold. But on the early morning of Sept. 12, 1997, I stumbled out of my bed and into my parents’ room. “I can’t breathe, I need to go to the ER,” I murmured. My dad jumped out of bed and raced me down to the emergency room. After being airlifted to a second hospital, I fell into a coma. Four days later, I awoke without the ability to move my arms and legs. My life as a shy, quiet freshman in high school was no more. I was now a quadriplegic and scared out of my mind. I would spend the next eight ..read more

I can't believe it's been 20 years already. Two decades since the deadly terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. That day changed the lives of many people, not just in the United States, but across the globe. And I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news. It started out like every other day. I woke up in my bedroom and was trying to muster up enough energy to go to class. My first semester of college at Arizona State University just began that August, so it was a fresh experience for me. Suddenly, my mom bursts through the door. "Gabe, a plane crashed into the World Trade Center," she ..read more

It's finally here. I am officially a couple of weeks out of becoming fully vaccinated with my coronavirus vaccine. For those who read my previous post, trying to obtain a vaccine as a person with a disability has been a long, difficult road. You've heard me talk about all the issues those with disabilities were having to try to get a vaccine early on in the vaccination process. But unfortunately, the vaccination was virtually impossible to obtain in places across the country. After successfully navigating the past year and trying to avoid exposure to the coronavirus, I was eager to try and get ..read more

In 1997, I was fighting to survive. A severe cold and asthma complications left me paralyzed with a collapsed lung. I spent eight months in the hospital and relied on a ventilator to breathe. It was a frightening time for me and my family and a day doesn’t go by without me thinking of that ordeal. More than 20 years later, I have adjusted to life as a person with a disability and the fear of being so close to death has subsided. But with the rise of COVID-19 and the current uncertainty of getting access to a vaccine, the possibility of me being hospitalized is a very real possibility. Even wor ..read more

I’m a self-proclaimed nerd. It all started as a young kid collecting “Spawn” comics and watching “The X-Files.” in the 90s. Even today, I still proudly wave my nerd flag into my 30s as several original drawings of “Daredevil” and “Batman” adorn my office walls while a custom “Gundam” model keeps me company near my desk. There are many rites of passage in “nerdom,” but perhaps one of the biggest is attending conventions. I have been lucky enough to attend many local comic book conventions and even attended the great San Diego Comic-Con a few times. But due to the pandemic, it may be a while bef ..read more

On Nov. 7, 2020, the world learned the news about Joe Biden becoming president-elect. Many people took to the streets across the country to celebrate after a long week of counting ballots and analyzing voter turnout. As day turned to night Saturday, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris addressed the nation and spoke about what the next four years in office would look like. For those who watched, there were plenty of memorable moments. From Biden proclaiming his priority to unify the country, to Harris talking about her historic moment becoming the first woman to be elected Vice President. But for me, o ..read more

September has been a strange month for me over the past few decades. Along with the significance of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the day after also holds a special meaning for me. On Sept. 12, 1997, I became a quadriplegic and lost the ability to use my arms and legs.  Each September years after that fateful illness brought a wide range of emotions, but this year, one emotion stood out more than most. Fear.  As I look back on my experience with my illness, Hopkins Syndrome, I vividly remember how I felt initially as I woke from my coma in the intensive care unit at Phoenix Children ..read more