Article by Duchenne Mum Ashley Lawmon
Who here has been told that your child won’t do this and won’t do that? Because I know I did. He won’t jump, run, walk past the age of 9, ride a bike, skip or live independently.
Proving them wrong
Well, he has! Children do not understand the limits that some medical professionals put on them, so instead they work to their own ability. I think many medical books need updating on what children can and cannot do as many are overtaking and surpassing their limitations. Each child is different and some may never be able to do these things, but to put the same limitations on every child is unfair.
His biggest fan
Dylan is now 11 and struggles more than other children of his age to do these things, but he is still doing them in his own way. I always encourage him to believe that if he wants to do something, there is a way around his current “limitation”. I don’t fill him full of false hope. I am just his biggest fan who will support and push him to do the things he wants to do.
Until you feel it is unsafe for your child, allow them to do what they enjoy. A good friend of mine who lived with DMD himself said to me “if not now, when?”. We have chosen to live by that so far. That young man was pleased that his mum didn’t limit him as a result of the limits set by medical professionals. You know your child best, so encourage everything and don’t live by what someone else tells you your child won’t be able to do.
Safely allowing them to do or to try what they want gives them so much happiness and independence which is something they will treasure in the future.
About the author
Ashley lives in the East Midlands with her three children. Ashley started writing blogs for Action Duchenne to help her navigate life during the global pandemic.
Read her articles here;
If you have a story you would like to share with us, please email info@actionduchenne.org.
