Brother with Duchenne

My brother has DMD is 25 and is truly amazing – He’s always laughing and chatting away. He understood his disability he doesn’t dwell on it at all. He just carries on living his day to day life … Which includes the XBox and Playstation and his friends. Although he can’t walk and he is gradually getting to the point of not being able to lift his arms to feed himself he doesn’t let any of that get him down.

Although for me, it was hard when I was younger as if you have a big brother you want to be able to play and mess around and being younger than him and being a girl which means being very sensitive. I used to cry quite a lot as I always remember my mum and dad sitting myself and my sister down and talking to us about our brothers condition, his life expectancy and what the future holds for him. It was hard when he went in for his back (spinal) operation. But after it made a whole lot of difference… Even though he has breathing problems anyway the operation had really helped him out.

Then when I found out he had to be on heart tablets at the age of 20 – Even though time has flown it’s unbelievable what he has actually been through and what he is still going through… You start to notice things more, even the little things that we all take for granted we can pick up a toothbrush fine … Whereas he can’t even do that anymore… His legs pretty much went when he was about 12 and has been in a chair ever since… His arms are gradually going although he still has enough muscles in his fingers for gaming!! haha … The thing that recently got to me was his eyesight…All these things are gradually catching up with and it’s pretty scary how quick it’s all happening… He is one tough cookie… Love him to bits. x