Party of 9 — Betty Vertin

“We are called upon not to be successful, but to be faithful.” This quote, which has been passed down in many forms, is one of my favorites from Mother Teresa. I’ve been thinking a lot about life with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We’re going to our neuromuscular clinic…

It’s August, and here in Nebraska, that marks the start of a new school year. As preparations were underway at our house, a freshly sharpened No. 2 pencil rolled across the kitchen table. My oldest son, Max, who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), noticed it and remarked…

When you have kids’ Legos in the house, you tend to have Legos everywhere! At least, that’s how it’s always been here with my “Party of 9.” My oldest son and second child, Max, 16, got us started with the building bricks over a decade ago. Growing up,…

Being a mother to a child with special needs is a demanding job. My children need things I cannot ignore, no matter how tired or busy I am. Last week I hit my wall, and something had to give. Maybe you noticed it was my column. I could not be…

We had a tough day here this past week. Everyone was tired, and emotions were running high. After a long day, we hit a breaking point. I was going on day six or seven as a single parent while my husband was traveling with one of my sons for…

My oldest son, Max, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) on July 10, 2010. During the following year, my sons Rowen and Charlie were also diagnosed with DMD. In a few days, it will be the 12th anniversary of Max’s diagnosis. But for me, July 10 serves…

This week’s column is a little different than usual. Hawken Miller, a fellow Muscular Dystrophy News columnist who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), reached out to collaborate. Hawken, who’s also a features writer for Bionews, the parent company of this website, asked me five questions about being the parent…

Some days do not want to be good ones. We had one of those days this past Sunday. I was determined to get to church on time. From the get-go, many factors were working against me. For one, my husband wasn’t home. My son without Duchenne, Chance, is playing…

The seasons are all special to me and necessary to one another. Each holds its own challenges and wonder. Here in Nebraska, we are fortunate enough to experience all four — winter, spring, summer, and fall. Every time I enter a new season, I think it’s my favorite, but by…

Motherhood was not something I was always sure I wanted. The idea of motherhood scared me. I didn’t think I had what it took. When I think of the word mother, I think of love — and I feared I didn’t have enough to give. That changed the moment I…

New places, new people, new things: They’re exciting! As a parent, I encourage my children to try new things, step outside their comfort zones, and see what the world has to offer. There is no difference in how I parent my children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and my…

I drive a massive, commercial-size, accessible, 12-passenger Dodge Promaster van with a high roof. And I love it for many reasons. Our van was never — and is not now — my dream car. But just like Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), it is something I have learned to…