How Summer Jobs Remind Me My Sons Are Not So Different
Summer! The best time of year for my kids. We are currently counting down the days left of school. In Nebraska, school is out for summer break by the middle of May. So…
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.
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Caregiving sometimes feels like walking a tightrope
My heart is walking a tightrope. I’m a 45-year-old wife to Jason and mother to our seven children: Lexi, 23, Max, 19, Chance, 17, Rowen, 16, Charlie, 14, Mary, 10, and Callie, 3. Three…
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How I Learned Not to Borrow Tomorrow’s Trouble Today
I had one of those moments that hit you hard with a dose of the future last week. And those hits hurt. I was pushing my baby daughter, Callie, in her stroller. We were…
Why Pool Therapy Is Part of Our Care Plan
I write my columns on Tuesdays. I do this because I procrastinate. My deadline is Wednesday morning, and I’m not about to wake up early on Wednesdays to get it done. I am not…
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…
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…
