BREAKING BARRIERS

Today, September 7, is World Duchenne Awareness Day. This date was chosen because the gene that codes for the missing protein in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy has 79 parts, called “exons.” SO…the 7th day of the 9th month is 79….there you go. Clever no? If today is your birthday…then it’s a double bonus. (I’m talking to you Erin Dresnick, Miss Lisa, John Korbey, Robbie Larhette (you owe me homework from 2004), Pat Kane, Ch-Ch-Cheryl Musto, Chris DiPersio, Stephen Flesher, Mark Hatfield, Karen St. George, and Avi Patel to name a few that are on my list….Happy World Duchenne Awareness Day Birthday!) OK, on we go…

Across the world, today marks a day to continue to raise awareness about Duchenne and Becker as well as ongoing research, equal access to care and treatment, regardless of income level or location on the Earth. While advances continue, the community will not rest until more effective treatments are realized for everyone living with Duchenne and Becker.

Each year, the World Duchenne Organization chooses a theme for the day and this year’s theme is BREAKING BARRIERS. As I have said before, MD does come with many silver linings and one of them, always shining brightly, is the best of humanity coming together to others. I have seen, and been a part of incredible things in my life, and none would be possible without the help of others. Whether it is my love of travel around the United States, and internationally, visiting nature sights deep in the woods, up mountains, down in caves, from a glacier in Alaska to a sunset in Key West, or being able to simply live my days as fully as possible, it’s all about breaking barriers with the help of wonderful people who support me. Today I celebrate all of you. (Shout out to Patty…I hope you saved that poster of the hammock between the two palm trees in your office where I borrowed your bathroom everyday at school for YEARS…..relax and then do nothing afterwards….GOLD). The majority of my readers know me personally, and can likely call up a situation right now where you and I were somewhere doing something that required YOU to help ME….I hope you realize what your gestures have meant to me. (Jim, Jim, Mike, and Joe…not “those” gestures). I continue to be amazed by everyone who helps break the barriers that life throws at me. By all of these actions, you continue to send the important message to society that disability does not have to be viewed as a negative quality, but instead, simply as a way of life. It’s a great life. It’s a wonderful life. Insert lint-filled movie reference here. (also, Karyn, clean the dryer lint).

If you would like Duchenne inspiration, I leave you today with the official video of this year’s World Duchenne Awareness Day. May it continue to inspire each and every one of you to help break barriers. Together, we are stronger.

Stay safe, stay awesome, and stay tuned.

P.S. None of you are off the hook. If you have never helped me with anything, help me become the global star that I already am in my head. (My wife made me write that sentence). Share this post and smash the like button, whatever that means….My kids say it…

#WorldDuchenneAwarenessDay