Living in the Now: The Journey of My Progressive Quadriplegia as a Musician

Solo Episode
Written By Amy Wang-Hiller

In this episode, I shared my medical story, part 2, about how I experienced traumatic experiences with progressive paralysis while staying in the moment and continuing my performance career.
I want to share my stories now, right before my surgery next week, on the podcast to raise awareness of the rare disease and let everyone know that it’s okay not to know the answer or find your diagnosis yet but still be validated for your symptoms.

Living in the present is the ONE thing that helps me through each traumatic experience with paralysis, still enjoy each of my performances, and cherish each performance opportunity.

As a musician podcast, I want to encourage disabled musicians to come out and talk about their experiences with accessibility at work, inclusivity in different work settings - orchestras, chamber music, composition, conducting - of course, not limited to these.; and what do you think are the obstacles for the disabled musicians to shine… list literally can go on. So, if you are a disabled musician and love to talk about your story and experiences, you can reach out to thrivexstrive@gmail.com; or fill out the contact form on my website amywangviolin.com.

Amy Wang-Hiller

Amy Wang-Hiller is a violinist, educator, and disability advocate whose career was reshaped by her own journey with complex neurological conditions, including craniocervical instability (CCI) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). As Founder and Executive Director of the InclusiVibe Foundation, she transforms lived experience into inclusive concerts, research partnerships, and storytelling that bridge healthcare and the arts. Her work unites disabled artists, medical experts, and communities to advance equity, visibility, and systemic change.

http://inclusivibe.org
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