Party of 9 — Betty Vertin

A banner for Betty Vertin's "Party of 9" that depicts a large family walking across a field at sunset..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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Columns

What’s on my wish list for my family’s Duchenne dream home

My family needs more space. I wrote about this recently, and we have since decided not to remodel our current home. Since there’s no room to add on, we’re now focused on finding a new, larger house. We have a big family. My husband, Jason, and I share seven…

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Columns

How my teaching job reminds me that I’m more than a caregiver

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 sons — Max, 19, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13 — who live with Duchenne muscular…

Columns

Couch shopping awakened me to a focus on my children with DMD

I think about things deeply, rolling ideas around in my head until they make sense. My creative side, the writer, likes to wonder in this way. And as an introvert who naturally tends to keep everything to myself, writing is often the way I can express ideas and feelings after…

Columns

Changes this year helped me learn my limitations as a caregiver

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 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Our lives are busy year-round. This year…

Columns

Being mindful of kidney stones while living with DMD

“Kidney stones!” my 13-year-old son, Charlie, exclaimed when I asked him what I should write about this week. My husband, Jason, and I have seven children: Lexi, 23; Max, 19; Chance, 17; Rowen, 15; Charlie, Mary, 10; and Callie, 2. Max, Rowen, and Charlie have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Columns

The missed milestones in the teenage years because of DMD

I have three teenage sons — Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13 — who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). They have met several sweet milestones over the years, and I love celebrating them. I’ve always made a big deal about birthdays, for instance, as well as decorating the…

Columns

As a Duchenne mom, I know I can do hard things

The seasons are changing in central Nebraska. The leaves have turned yellow and orange, a beautiful contrast littered across the green lawns and familiar streets surrounding my home. The mornings are brisk, and I’ve finally pulled out my warmer sweaters and fuzzy socks. I’ve been drinking pumpkin spice coffee for weeks!…

Columns

Duchenne affects my entire life, down to a DIY project

I’m a mom to seven children: Lexi, 23; Max, 18; Chance, 17; Rowen, 15; Charlie, 13; Mary, 10; and Callie, 2. As part of that job, I’m also a caregiver to Max, Rowen, and Charlie, who all have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Additionally, I’m a chronic DIYer (do-it-yourselfer). Yes,…

Columns

I wish all of my sons could have played football

I sat in the front row of the football stadium, watching my second-oldest son, Chance, 17, play football. It’s his senior year, and I’ve been front and center at each game. That front row has the accessible seating, which helps because Chance has three brothers living with…

Columns

Every week, we try to organize chaos in our family of 9

What’s a typical week as a caregiver of three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) like? As a primary caregiver to Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13, my honest answer is that I wish I knew! There is no typical week. I also have four children who…

Columns

This time, new medical equipment is hard for me to accept

Our house is getting a new piece of medical equipment this week. That’s happened before, as we have three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): Max, 18, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13. Over the past decade, in fact, our house has been a landing zone for lots of equipment…

Columns

A friend in the DMD world makes a difference in my self-care

In my recent columns, I’ve shared several challenges we’ve faced in the past months of my family’s journey with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). My accessible van will be in the shop for the foreseeable future. I’ve returned to work after over a decade at home as a…


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