Adding 4 more legs to the 26 already in my family

For years, I told the kids we couldn’t get another dog unless something happened to the two we already had. I did not want three dogs! I didn’t have room for that!

Yet we now have a new puppy.

My life is bursting at the seams most days, given that I’m a hands-on mom who’s actively involved in the lives of my seven children. I have a married daughter, Lexi, 24, and two sons, Max, 19, and Chance, 18, in college. Living at home, I have Rowen, 16; Charlie, 14; Mary, 10; and Callie, 3. Max, Rowen, and Charlie all live with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

If the paragraph above doesn’t scream “busy family,” let me guarantee that we are. Here’s an example: Max comes home from college every weekend. On Monday mornings, I shower him, take him back to his dorm, and get everything set up for him for the week. I put out his medication, dump his trash, and put his clothes away.

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My son, Rowen, has a modified high school schedule. I either pick him up early or drop him off late. Charlie, meanwhile, is in the marching band, with a 7 a.m. practice each morning and parades and competitions on weekends. My husband or I use an attendant control to drive his chair while he marches.

My younger daughters are busy with dance lessons and softball practice, plus the games in the fall softball season. Chance is a college baseball player; his fall season starts this week. We’ll travel to as many of his games as possible.

No matter the season, these activities fill our lives; softball just transitions to basketball, band to musical theater. My family is always going in multiple directions, and my husband and I make sure our kids are cared for, in the right place, and ready for their activity. If they don’t physically need our help, we’re in the stands.

The rest of our time is spent caring for our sons’ particular Duchenne needs, which means doctor appointments, clinical trials, and therapies.

I love being a mom and having dogs. Still, I felt we were at our limit, with certainly no room for a puppy.

Why I changed my mind

Rowen, 16, holds Otis, his new puppy. (Courtesy of Betty Vertin)

In January, Rowen turned 16. He so badly wanted to get his driver’s license, but right now we can’t afford the kind of van he’d need to drive. I’m hoping that once he finishes high school and qualifies for more resources, we can get him driving.

That doesn’t fix the fact that he turned 16 without a license, though. He was heartbroken.

I’d do about anything for my kids, especially if it helps right a wrong brought on by a deadly disease. And Rowen’s other birthday wish, if he couldn’t have a car, was to have his own dog — one small enough to fit on his lap when he’s sitting in his wheelchair.

I couldn’t say no. Rowen has these big, dark brown eyes, and when they hold sadness, I cannot handle it. And besides, the puppy means more love, and we can’t have too much of that.

Additionally, our life, with three sons living with Duchenne and the rest of our large family, isn’t like anyone else’s. There’s no guidebook for a family like ours, so we make our own rules. Duchenne has taught me that life is short. So we got the puppy, and he became a Vertin.

Rowen named him Otis. He’s a Cavapoo and a little firecracker who likes to chew on shoes and can’t seem to master potty training. When teamed up with our youngest, Callie, he can sure make a mess of the house. But when he’s sleepy, we see glimpses of the loyal lap dog he’ll become. He sleeps on Rowen’s lap and wakes him each morning with abundant kisses.

Otis makes Rowen happy, and the rest of the family is smitten with him as well. He’s a worthy addition, despite my earlier fears.

Note: Muscular Dystrophy News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Muscular Dystrophy News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to muscular dystrophy.