I am always learning more about life with Duchenne
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.
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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My 3-year-old is realizing her older brothers with DMD are different
“Mommy, hold me. Mommy, hold me.” These were the words I heard repeatedly from my 3-year-old daughter, Callie, during the four days we spent in the neuromuscular clinic with her older brothers last week.
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During a busy season, we must take things one day at a time
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 sons living with DMD?
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,…
Our son’s graduation from high school was beautifully exhausting
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…
Meeting the challenges of DMD with laughter, love, and learning
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…
I’m thankful our doctor can have telehealth sessions with us
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’m learning to treat my boys with DMD as individuals, not as a trio
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,…
Planning for a tornado emergency with 3 sons who have DMD
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’m feeling all the emotions as my oldest son reaches a big milestone
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…
Reflecting on the beauty in life with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
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…
Managing motherhood and caregiving: Where is the beauty?
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…
Duchenne clinical trials show me how mature my sons have become
I recently took my three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to a hospital in Denver for three days of a clinical trial. One day was for each of them — Max,…
