---
title: Voices From The Community | Spinal Cord Injury & Paralysis | Kristin Beale (2)
description: "Kristin Beale is a native of Richmond, Virginia. She is the author of three books, Greater Things and A Million Suns, Wide Awake, and a comic book, Date Me. Instagram: @kristin.gupta (2)"
---
[Community](https://www.christopherreeve.org/community) [Voices From The Community | Spinal Cord Injury & Paralysis | Kristin Beale (2)](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/kristin-beale/page/2)
# 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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[-1.png) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/surround-yourself-mama)
## [Surround Yourself, Mama](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/surround-yourself-mama)
May 8, 2024
One of my most useful but situationally frustrating characteristics is “stubborn,” I’m confident my husband and parents will confirm. I have no... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/surround-yourself-mama)
[-1.png) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/navigating-parenthood-and-disability)
## [Navigating Parenthood and Disability](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/navigating-parenthood-and-disability)
April 15, 2024
I’m a little over 18 years post-accident (resulting in my T8 paralysis) and a little under one-year post-childbirth. Both statistics are... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/navigating-parenthood-and-disability)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/mental-health-and-postpartum)
Mental Health
## [Mental Health and Postpartum](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/mental-health-and-postpartum)
February 15, 2024
I gave birth to my son, Malachi, in April of last year. Childbirth was the most simultaneously great and challenging thing I’ve been through since a... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/mental-health-and-postpartum)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/parenting-made-accessible)
Assistive Technology
## [Parenting Made Accessible](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/parenting-made-accessible)
January 19, 2024
I’ve been paralyzed and dependent on a wheelchair for almost two decades and, I tell ya, becoming a mom has required more of my creativity,... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/parenting-made-accessible)
[](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/wintertime-wrist-weights-and-hygge)
Mental Health
## [Wintertime Wrist Weights and Hygge](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/wintertime-wrist-weights-and-hygge)
December 12, 2023
Winter is coming, y’all. Can you feel the creep? Last year, I told my husband “I’m kinda excited for wintertime,” and we can mark that as the most... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/wintertime-wrist-weights-and-hygge)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/mindful-thanksgiving)
## [Savor the Flavor - Have A Mindful Thanksgiving](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/mindful-thanksgiving)
November 20, 2023
Last month, I wrote about taking Halloween candy in moderation. How did we do? Maybe I’m an outlier, but I didn’t have too hard of a time sticking to... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/mindful-thanksgiving)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/halloween-in-moderation)
## [Halloween In Moderation](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/halloween-in-moderation)
October 20, 2023
I’ve always thought of October as “the beginning of the spiral.” I give so much effort to working out and improving my body during the summer months,... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/halloween-in-moderation)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/defining-you)
## [Defining You](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/defining-you)
September 1, 2023
For the first year or so after an accident that left me paralyzed in a wheelchair, my disability was in the driver’s seat. That was necessary to help... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/defining-you)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/find-humor-in-it)
## [Find Humor In It](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/find-humor-in-it)
August 17, 2023
I used to think about my disability as a hurdle to overcome and something people have to surmount before they can get to know me. Especially after I... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/find-humor-in-it)
[1](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/kristin-beale/page/1) [2](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/kristin-beale/page/2) [3](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/kristin-beale/page/3) [4](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/kristin-beale/page/4) [5](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/kristin-beale/page/5)
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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