Tuesday, July 09, 2013

My Birthday

My last blog post was on my birthday last year. I have decided to resume my blog on my birthday this year. It is a new start.

Today I am forty-five. When I was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the age of six, I was not expected to make it past my teenage years. I have shattered those expectations decade after decade. From this, I have learned not to pay much attention to deadlines. Life is a rollercoaster ride that must come to a stop eventually, so you just have to enjoy the ride while it lasts. It is a series of ups and downs. If there were no downs, than the ups wouldn't be so great. Enjoying the ride for such a long time is my way of thumbing my nose at DMD. DMD has not defeated me yet, and I don't plan on letting it any time soon.

On my birthday, I remember all the friends and acquaintances that I have lost to DMD. I also reflect on those who I didn't know who were taken to soon by DMD.  Any loss to this disease is a great loss to the DMD community. All of us with this disease are fighting against a common foe. I hope for the day when no one else has to face this scourge.