Duchenne: Shalom's Lifelong Partner-in-Crime — Shalom Lim Ern Rong

I received an email on Jan. 12 from Duchenne UK, an important Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) nonprofit in the United Kingdom. Its announcement: “Breaking News! First treatment for all [DMD] patients approved in U.K.” It went on to note that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency,…

As I look forward to the year ahead, I’m filled with a mix of emotions: unbridled joy at the thought of spending my first Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend, Amanda; a sense of dread as my caregiver Glenda leaves in July; and the euphoria of turning 29 in October. Writing…

On Dec. 10, I performed “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King at the year-end music recital hosted by ART:DIS, a Singapore organization that supports the artistic development of members of the disability community. I dedicated the song to my pillars of support in my life with Duchenne…

As this column is published, it’s the eve of the fourth anniversary of my brother Isaac‘s death. He passed away on Dec. 7, 2019, from heart disease related to his Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which I have, too. I feel it’s significant, even rare, that someone with…

Shalom Lim, who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, celebrates a relationship milestone and affirms that waiting for and finding true love is worth the effort.

Late last month I turned 28 years old, the age my brother, Isaac, was when he passed away from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). I have the same disease, and it’s put me through many exhausting battles. But each time, I’ve emerged stronger. In fact, I graduated with a…

On Sept. 2, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore) (MDAS) held its annual Go the Dystance carnival at One Punggol, a community hub that houses the Punggol Regional Library. The event is typically held between SMA Awareness Month in August and World Duchenne Awareness Day on Sept. 7.

Aug. 14 isn’t just another day for my family. This year, our conversations were imbued with heartfelt remembrance as we gathered around the dinner table. We celebrated the birthday of my brother, Isaac, even though he was no longer with us physically. Isaac passed away due to heart…

While writing this today, I’m marveling at how swiftly the passage of time has occurred. It’s been almost a year since I published my first column for Muscular Dystrophy News Today! In my debut column, I documented how, after more than two decades of battling Duchenne…

After 17 years, Shalom Lin is preparing to say good-bye to his caregiver, Glenda. Goodbyes are always painful but often necessary. Nothing lasts forever, so we must enjoy what we have with the people we love, he writes.

One cozy night last September, my parents and I relaxed in the living room after dinner. My father turned to me and asked for a movie recommendation. It’d been awhile since we’d done this — our cherished family tradition of watching movies together on weekend evenings. In 2019, we lost…

Readers of my column are familiar with my Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) story, which began with my diagnosis in February 1996. My older brother, Isaac, was diagnosed with DMD at birth in August 1991. My family’s DMD story, however, dates back four decades from then, to 1951,…