Specific to Aidan
One of the most common questions asked about Aidan is, "How is he doing?" It is our intent to answer that question on this page.

Aidan's now 8 years old, and to outward appearances, is typical of a first grade boy. He's interested in school, drawing, his friends, and animals, animals, animals. He runs around, plays with his dog, Ally, explains things to his brother, and plays with his sister.

He's a normal, inquisitive, interesting boy who enjoys people, taking vacations, and having fun. He now has a motorized scooter to use when he goes places requiring long walks. He's taking it to school more often now because his third grade room is on the second floor and it's a long way to the elevator, then to the lunchroom.

Because of the degenerative nature of DMD, it's not wise to encourage much physical activity. So he doesn't go to recess, but has recess buddies who play legos, do art, and read in the office during recess times. He chafes sometimes at not being able to go to recess, but understands that his muscles would get too tired if he did.Or he goes out to recess on his scooter. He can't participate fully in end-of-the-year activity days, but he does what he can. Nor does he go on long field-trip walks - he takes his scooter.

He has an electric bicycle that helps him bike with more ease. It's one of his favorite after-school activities to ride over to the next-door playground.

He takes many pills each day with no fuss. He's asked his parents why they can't just take him to the doctor to get this DMD fixed. And seems to understand that there's no "fix" right now and that's why we're all working so hard to raise money for DMD research.

To his credit, he's also said that while he wished he didn't have DMD, he likes the special things that happen to him because of it - things like his Make-A-Wish trip and the annual Walks and Runs for Aidan. The disease limits him, but does not define him.