Rolling with the punchlines: Lessons in resilience from a wheelchair comedian

I’m always on the lookout for examples of how other people successfully handle life’s big and little speed bumps. Because I need all the inspiration I can get, especially since my biggest speed bump is living with ALS.

Little ALS bumps happen almost every day, constantly testing my resilience. A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to discover someone who not only inspired me but also made me laugh out loud. This happened during the “Funny Moments” event I hosted recently on the ALS News Today Forums. Since the event’s focus was ALS and humor, I shared a post containing links to several successful stand-up comedians living with neurological diseases. Among them was my new favorite comedian, Fiona Cauley, who has Friedreich’s ataxia.

I first read about Cauley’s health journey in Quest, a magazine by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Her symptoms, including a loss of balance and slurred speech, began when she was in high school. Several years later, she found herself navigating life from a wheelchair. Soon after, she became a touring comedian, best known for her dark sense of humor and her ability to turn her physical condition into comedic punchlines. While Cauley’s videos had me laughing, I also recognized that her resilience was on full display.

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Why resilience?

Having resilience is so important to me that I’ve written several columns about it. I believe resilience — the ability to cope with and survive change — is a skill ALS patients should hone to navigate both their initial diagnosis and their ongoing symptoms.

Over the years, I’ve relied on many coping strategies. I try everything from thinking outside the box to find unique solutions to asking others for advice. When problem-solving, I often ask myself: What changed? How do I feel? Who or what can help me? But then there’s my go-to favorite strategy: humor.

For example, whether I’m using my rollator or my mobility scooter, public restrooms always pose a challenge. When I encounter missing door locks or misplaced grab bars, I choose not to get angry. Instead, I lean into the irony of the situation and pretend I’m competing in an episode of “American Ninja Warrior.”

Our response matters

In a previous column, “How I made my own resilience checklist to live with ALS,” I shared the fundamentals of learning how to cope, adapt, and live with our daily challenges. And I reminded readers that the most important lesson of resilience is recognizing that while we can’t control everything, we can always control how we respond.

I applaud Cauley for choosing to respond with humor. Before our ALS diagnosis, some of us never had to truly test our resilience. Others only had to tap into it once in a while. Let’s continue to strengthen our resilience together, so we can live well while we live with ALS.

Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.