Betty Vertin is a mother and writer living in rural Hastings, Nebraska, with her husband and seven children. Betty is a caregiver to three sons, Max, Rowen, and Charlie. Her oldest was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2010 at 4 years old. The other boys were diagnosed with the same in the following year. Although Duchenne occasionally crashes the party, it has not kept her large family from celebrating and enjoying life. She writes her column in hopes of sharing her family’s experiences with others on a similar journey.
Life feels busy, which is no surprise to me. My husband, Jason, and I share seven children: Lexi, 23; Max, 19; Chance, 17; Rowen, 15; Charlie, 13; Mary, 10; and Callie, 2. Max, Rowen, and Charlie live with…
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“Kidney stones!” my 13-year-old son, Charlie, exclaimed when I asked him what I should write about this week. My husband, Jason, and I have seven children: Lexi, 23; Max, 19; Chance, 17; Rowen, 15; Charlie, Mary, 10; and Callie,…
I have three teenage sons — Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13 — who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). They have met several sweet milestones over the years, and I love celebrating them. I’ve always made a big…
The seasons are changing in central Nebraska. The leaves have turned yellow and orange, a beautiful contrast littered across the green lawns and familiar streets surrounding my home. The mornings are brisk, and I’ve finally pulled out my warmer sweaters…
I’m a mom to seven children: Lexi, 23; Max, 18; Chance, 17; Rowen, 15; Charlie, 13; Mary, 10; and Callie, 2. As part of that job, I’m also a caregiver to Max, Rowen, and Charlie, who all have…
I sat in the front row of the football stadium, watching my second-oldest son, Chance, 17, play football. It’s his senior year, and I’ve been front and center at each game. That front row has the accessible seating,…
What’s a typical week as a caregiver of three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) like? As a primary caregiver to Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13, my honest answer is that I wish I knew!…
Our house is getting a new piece of medical equipment this week. That’s happened before, as we have three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13. Over the past decade, in fact,…
I’m going gray. Wait, I should clarify that I’ve been coloring my hair since I was 25. It started coming in gray long before I became a mom to three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): Max, 18,…
In my recent columns, I’ve shared several challenges we’ve faced in the past months of my family’s journey with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). My accessible van will be in the shop for the foreseeable future. I’ve returned…
I walked home from school today. I’m almost 45 years old, yet today, with my backpack on, my empty lunch container stuffed inside, and a sweater tied around my waist, I walked home from school. As I pondered whether…
My life has recently been a whirlwind of activity. Now that the dust is finally settling, I’ve taken advantage of the relative quiet to take inventory of my family. An inventory of my family? What does that even mean?…
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