Party of 9 – a Column by Betty Vertin

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! There is no typical week. I also have four children who…

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, our house has been a landing zone for lots of equipment…

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, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13. But after hiding my natural color…

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 to work after over a decade at home as a…

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 I was overthinking that image, my daughter Mary, 9, who goes…

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? I have a large family. Inventory is how I describe keeping…

My past two columns highlighted significant life events: my daughter’s wedding and my return to the workforce. I’m keeping that theme going today as well, noting my oldest son’s move into his college dorm! Having children leave to experience lives of their own, outside the home you’ve…

I have seven children, and three of them are living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13. If you’re a caregiver or a parent, I’m sure you’ll understand how tired I am. I won’t peruse my past columns, but I’m sure…

I’m officially a mother-in-law! That’s a new title for me. I’m a mom to the seven children I share with my husband, Jason. I’m also a special needs mom and warrior mama to my three sons living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). And now I’m also a mother-in-law…

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) touches every part of my family’s life. Jason, my husband of 23 years, and I have seven children. Three of them — Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13 — live with DMD. We’re now in the middle of what could be one of…