Addison Schwab, Age 6
Lisbon, ND

Home and Family

Addison is the son of Cliff and Damien Howey. He has 1 brother, Ethan who is 13 and 1 sister, Emma who is 17. He also has a dog and 2 cats.

Diagnosis

Addison was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in March of 2010. DMD is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. DMD is caused by an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. Symptom onset is in early childhood, usually between ages 3 and 5. The disease primarily affects boys, but in rare cases it can affect girls.

School

Addison is in kindergarten and he loves everything about school!

Interests

Addison loves to ride horses, specifically a horse named Tigger, who is part of the Riding for Dreams program for kids with disabilities. He loves to play with his cat, dogs, and cousins. He enjoys painting, drawing, swimming, and spending time with his family! He doesn’t let his DMD get him down and even calls himself Ironman.

MDA Activities

Addison’s family has participated in the Muscle Walk for the past 3 years. They also attend Fill the Boot events and visit Shamrock accounts. He gets to go to MDA Summer Camp for the first time this year and is looking forward to it!