Helping My Little Ones Understand DMD
I’m late to pick up the kids from school a lot now. I haven’t always been this way, though. Last year, I’d arrive 10 minutes early every day and use it for some quiet…
Party of 9 — 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.
Featured Post
What success looks like for me as a DMD parent
Parenting is the most challenging job I’ve ever had. When my role as a parent expanded into caregiving for three of my children, challenging didn’t even begin to describe the path that lay in…
Read more
How Theater Has Helped My Son Navigate Friendships
My family has been on the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) journey for almost 12 years. During that time, I’ve quietly watched how friendships and making friends have changed for each of my three…
When Smiles, Celebration, and Duchenne Coexist in Harmony
Celebrate? Yes, we do. There was a time when I didn’t think celebrating and Duchenne muscular dystrophy could coexist. I thought a life touched by Duchenne would be voided of happiness, joy, and…
Learning How to Parent Through the Traumas Caused by DMD
During Mass on Sunday, the priest talked about an aspect of faith that acts as an infusion for the soul. As a mother of three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), I loved the…
The Importance of Teaching Our Children to Self-advocate
I’ve had a conversation with my son Rowen, 13, that we continue to revisit, and I feel like it’s something all parents raising kids with Duchenne muscular dystrophy deal with on some level. How…
The Duchenne Community Is My Safety Net When I Feel Lonely
I set aside time every week just for me. Every Monday for an hour, I sit in a small chapel at my church. I use the time to read, pray, reflect, or sit in…
A Love Letter to the Cough Assist Machine
This column is my love letter to the cough assist machine. I love the assistive device and what it does for my three sons, Max, Rowen, and Charlie, who live with Duchenne muscular…
The Waiting Game Can Be Tough to Play
My family has had a hectic week. It started out lovely; the entire family, all nine of us, spent a beautiful, springlike day together at the zoo. By Sunday evening, however, we had kids…
Who Are the Rarest of the Rare?
The adjective “rare” refers to an event, situation, or condition not occurring very often, not found in large numbers, and consequently of interest. For example, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare disease affecting…
The Chance of Having Only One Son Without Duchenne MD
My husband and I have four sons, but I spend most of my energy in this column writing about the three who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). I often wonder what the chances are…
Learning to Balance Caregiving and a New Baby
Living with a rare disease like Duchenne muscular dystrophy is more than doctors’ appointments, medicines, and wheelchairs. It affects every aspect of my family’s life. When I started writing this column, I was afraid…
My Sons’ Birthdays Stir Up My Emotions
January is birthday month at our house. We have four birthdays in January. That’s almost half of our family celebrating their arrivals on the planet in the same month. Our newest addition, our 3-week-old…
