Bleep. Bleep. Fire. Fire. Bleep. Bleep. It was 3 a.m., and my eyes flashed open as I bolted out of…
Betty Vertin
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.
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Articles by Betty Vertin
As a caregiver to my three sons living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), I’ve had a few bad days…
My family enjoys attending sports events and theater productions. There aren’t many things we like more than…
School and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) don’t always go hand in hand. But of course, they can — and…
The days are long, but the years are short. I’ve often heard that sentiment from parents whose children seem to…
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive disease, but for me, the mother of three sons with DMD, things…
As a mom to three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Betty Vertin sometimes feels that she needs to meet their needs at the expense of her own. Recognizing when she needs to take some time away for self-care is vital to her perseverance as a caregiver and her mental health as a mom, she says.
There is power in community! I’m thankful that my family is part of a big, beautiful community: the parents, professionals,…
A neuropsychological evaluation greatly affected how we plan to educate our 13-year-old son this school year. As Rowen begins the…
If you thought you missed my column last week, it wasn’t you — I didn’t write one. My kids were…