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.
Life feels busy, which is no surprise to me. My husband, Jason, and I share seven children: Lexi, 23; Max, 19; Chance, 17; Rowen, 15; Charlie, 13; Mary, 10; and Callie, 2. Max, Rowen, and Charlie live with…
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My past two columns highlighted significant life events: my daughter’s wedding and my return to the workforce. I’m keeping that theme going today as well, noting my oldest son’s move into his college dorm! Having children…
I have seven children, and three of them are living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13. If you’re a caregiver or a parent, I’m sure you’ll understand how tired I…
I’m officially a mother-in-law! That’s a new title for me. I’m a mom to the seven children I share with my husband, Jason. I’m also a special needs mom and warrior mama to my three sons living with…
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) touches every part of my family’s life. Jason, my husband of 23 years, and I have seven children. Three of them — Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13 — live with DMD.
Wrestling videos were the soundtrack to my morning earlier this week. I was staring at a beige wall void of anything except a small white clock marking the time and the black screen of a television no one uses.
This week, one of my boys had to get an MRI. Three of my four sons — Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13 — are living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and they’ve had annual…
I often read social media posts from moms asking for safe and fun ideas for their children to enjoy during summer break. When my boys were younger, I worried about that as well. I wanted my three sons with…
“What can I do to help?” It was my husband’s answer to the long rant I’d just finished. I didn’t know I needed an answer, but his caught my attention. Beyond the weight of my responsibilities, I was trying…
“I didn’t think you’d jump with us,” said my daughter Mary, 9, breathing heavily as she bounced from trampoline to trampoline. It’s true; I’d never taken her or her little sister Callie, 2, to the trampoline park before. But…
Recently, our family had terrific reasons to celebrate. I have three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13. They are doing things we never imagined they’d do when they were young.
When three of my sons — Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13 — were diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy between July 2010 and August 2011, my learning curve was practically a vertical line. When the diagnosing doctor first…
I feel relaxed — refreshed, even. We’ve had almost two weeks at home without any appointments or travel. The kids are complaining of boredom, but I’m letting boredom reign! It’s a beautiful but rare occurrence for my family of…
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