---
title: Voices From The Community | Spinal Cord Injury & Paralysis | Kieran OBrien Kern
description: I’m Kieran Bridget O’Brien Kern. Power is literally my middle name. When my husband and I became engaged, we agreed that parenthood was a two-person job. I am the primary caregiver to our children, but we all work as a team. From infancy onward, we have adapted and grown together. Every day there is a new challenge. Every new challenge is an opportunity to learn more about them and myself.
---
[Community](https://www.christopherreeve.org/community) [Voices From The Community | Spinal Cord Injury & Paralysis | Kieran OBrien Kern](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/kieran-obrien-kern/page/1)
# Voices from the Community
Our blog offers stories from the community, updates from the Reeve Foundation, and breaking news on research.
The opinions expressed in these blogs are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
[Latest from our community](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en) [Reeve Round Up](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en?cat=reeve-round-up) [Life After Paralysis](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en?cat=life-after-paralysis) [Research](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en?cat=research)
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[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/unexpected-access-makes-the-trip)
Travel
## [Real Life Stories of a Disabled Mom: Unexpected Access Makes the Trip](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/unexpected-access-makes-the-trip)
September 15, 2023
Vacationing as a disabled mom and wheelchair user, takes research and planning. Heck living as a disabled mom and wheelchair user does too, there are... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/unexpected-access-makes-the-trip)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/stories-of-a-disabled-mom)
## [Real Life Stories of a Disabled Mom: Effective Refereeing](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/stories-of-a-disabled-mom)
August 10, 2023
When I started writing this blog, my oldest was in first grade, and my youngest was about to turn 2. Now I have a rising fifth grader and... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/stories-of-a-disabled-mom)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/freedom-is-spelled-wheels)
## [Real Life Stories of a Disabled Mom: Freedom is Spelled WHEELS](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/freedom-is-spelled-wheels)
May 16, 2023
“You’re getting around great, aren’t you!” To be blunt, this is one of my least favorite comments from random able-bodied people I encounter as a... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/freedom-is-spelled-wheels)
[](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/gifts-to-make-my-new-year-bright)
Lifestyle
## [Real Life Stories of Disabled Mom: Emotional Gifts to Make My New Year Bright](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/gifts-to-make-my-new-year-bright)
December 15, 2022
It’s the holiday season; my usual modus operandi is to balance my shopping frenzy with a healthy dose of introspection and what I want for the... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/gifts-to-make-my-new-year-bright)
[](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-the-appearance-of-access)
Lifestyle
## [Real Life Stories of a Disabled Mom: The Appearance of Access](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-the-appearance-of-access)
November 24, 2022
The other weekend the weather was so perfect. The temperature was up, the humidity was low, and the sun shone across a clear blue sky. It not only... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-the-appearance-of-access)
[](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-making-mornings-work-smarter)
Lifestyle
## [Real Life Stories of a Disabled Mom: Making Mornings Work Smarter](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-making-mornings-work-smarter)
November 1, 2022
A month into the school year, my family is starting to feel our morning rhythm. Routine when it works is fantastic, but for us it takes a while to... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-making-mornings-work-smarter)
[](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-summer-of-grief)
Lifestyle
## [Real Life Stories of a Disabled Mom: Summer of Grief](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-summer-of-grief)
September 23, 2022
It was ingrained in me to be resilient in all parts of my life. I was taught to pick myself up, dust myself off and move on no matter what has... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-summer-of-grief)
[](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-wanted-a-new-way-to-do-self-care-when-the-old-ones-dont-work)
Lifestyle
## [Real Life Stories of a Disabled Mom Wanted: A New Way to do Self Care When the Old Ones Don’t Work](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-wanted-a-new-way-to-do-self-care-when-the-old-ones-dont-work)
June 28, 2022
I have been in a constant state of overwhelm, and my body is letting me know that it’s not happy with my coping strategies. My scooter is even... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-life-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-wanted-a-new-way-to-do-self-care-when-the-old-ones-dont-work)
[](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-forgotten-sports-skills-step-up-to-the-plate)
Lifestyle
## [Real Stories of a Disabled Mom: Forgotten Sports Skills Step Up to The Plate](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-forgotten-sports-skills-step-up-to-the-plate)
May 10, 2022
I have a lot of identities wife, mom, CP diva, writer, theatre & book nerd, motivator, public speaker, we could drill down farther, but I only have... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/blog/life-after-paralysis/real-stories-of-a-disabled-mom-forgotten-sports-skills-step-up-to-the-plate)
[1](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/kieran-obrien-kern/page/1) [2](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/kieran-obrien-kern/page/2)
The opinions expressed in these blogs are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
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