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.
I’m more than a caregiver, but it took a recent life change for me to realize that. I’m a mom to seven children I share with my husband, Jason, including three of our…
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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…
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.
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…
What’s it like to have three children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)? That’s the question I’m asked more than any other, as a mom and caregiver to three sons with DMD: Max, 18,…
My oldest son, Max, 18, graduated from high school last Sunday. Graduation is a milestone for all who achieve it, but since Max lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), it felt…
Life with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) doesn’t get easier as time goes by, but it’s made better by laughter, love, and everything that’s learned along the way. Three of my seven children have…
Spring is by far the busiest season for my family. I have seven children who range in age from 2 to 23 years old, and three of them, Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie,…
I have three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13, are part of a bustling family, joined by four other siblings: Lexi, 22, Chance, 16, Mary, 9,…
It’s now tornado season here in Nebraska, which is part of the U.S. Tornado Alley. I could write a column about Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) being like a tornado in the…
I have three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13. When Max was young, he met all of his developmental milestones late. He didn’t sit up until…
I have three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13. While caregiving and parenting three young men with Duchenne is full of the challenges and heartaches I…
My mind is spinning like the wheels on my son’s power wheelchair in the freshly fallen snow. You did not read that wrong, and it’s not a hypothetical. Here in Nebraska, it snowed this…
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