Party of 9 – a Column by Betty Vertin

I’m a mother of seven and a caregiver to the three of my sons who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). My oldest daughter, Lexi, 24, lives a few hours away with her husband. I live in rural Nebraska with my husband, Jason, and our six youngest children: Max, 19;…

When I think about my son Charlie, I always remember my pregnancy with him. I’d taken a home test and knew I was pregnant, but when I called to make an appointment with my doctor to confirm the good news, I scheduled an appointment for my son Max, who was…

Once again, I’m writing from an uncomfortable chair in an infusion room as my son Max participates in a clinical trial. I frequently visit this room with my three sons — Max, 19; Rowen, 16; and Charlie, 14 — who live with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). It’s a…

It’s been a couple of weeks since my last column. I’ve missed writing them. I can never explain how therapeutic it is for me to share my life as a caregiver through writing. I have seven children: Lexi, 24, Max, 19, Chance, 18, Rowen, 16, Charlie, 14, Mary, 10, and…

I am going at a pace I can’t maintain. As a former half-marathon runner, I can feel the burn in the pit of my stomach as I write this. I can feel the heat in my legs and cheeks as I push myself to the finish line. Except this time,…

I’m writing this column as my husband, Jason, drives our family through the last rolling hills on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. Last week, we took an epic road trip from our quiet hometown in Nebraska to the eclectic sounds and neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip.

I don’t gamble. I don’t know how to do it. I wouldn’t even know how to place a bet, and the only gambling game I recognize by name is poker. However, for someone who’s never gambled, I sure understand what it must feel like. How? Because I’m the caregiver of…

“Mommy, hold me. Mommy, hold me.” These were the words I heard repeatedly from my 3-year-old daughter, Callie, during the four days we spent in the neuromuscular clinic with her older brothers last week. It wasn’t normal for her to want to be held. I’ve never traveled with a stroller…

My husband, Jason, and I are parents to seven children: Lexi, 23; Max, 19; Chance, 17; Rowen, 16; Charlie, 14; Mary, 10; and Callie, 3. This week we’re traveling with five of them: Max, Rowen, and Charlie, who are our three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and our…

Superheroes were a large part of my life less than a decade ago. I am a boy mom. We had four sons in five years, and our house quickly became a lived-in museum of all things boys. Power Rangers, X-Men, and Marvel and DC Comics characters were like family members…