For 18 years, Linda VanVliet spent most of her non-working time taking care of her daughter, Shelby, who was diagnosed with congenital muscular dystrophy at 3 years old. (That diagnosis was later changed to titin myopathy.) Linda’s work as a school nurse also allowed her to step in quickly when Shelby needed care. “For a . . .
Located at more than 150 of the top healthcare institutions across the United States, MDA Care Centers serve as the nexus for expert clinical care and medical research. Our Care Center Network offers tens of thousands of appointments each year for individuals living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and other neuromuscular diseases. These appointments provide individuals . . .
When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in March 2020, Matthew Lawson’s employer — like many others around the country — temporarily closed its doors and had team members go remote to prevent spread of the virus. Matthew, an IT manager for Abilities in Motion in Reading, Pennsylvania, soon realized that working from home would not be . . .
Like many middle-school kids, 11-year-old Callen, of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, has turned his mom, Jamie Moulthrop, into a chauffeur, she jokes. He participates in karate, baseball, hockey, and surfing, and he meets up often with friends at the pool and splashes around for hours. Unlike the other kids around him, though, Callen has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a . . .
When Kristine Welker’s son was young, he wanted to be as involved in sports as everyone else in the family — and that meant a high level of activity, from biking and boating to organized sports and running. “Our son is our third child and by the time he came along, we figured he’d follow . . .
According to the National Science Foundation, individuals living with a disability, such as neuromuscular disease, are underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Yet STEM-based careers are growing exponentially, and diversity is needed to drive innovation in these fields. As part of MDA’s mission to transform the lives of individuals living with neuromuscular . . .
Bella, a 15-year-old in Fort Worth, Texas, loves jellyfish, horses, anime, Billie Eilish, reading sci-fi and fantasy, and making art. But living with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) makes it hard for her to engage in some of her favorite activities. “I can draw and paint for only a few minutes before my hand starts to hurt, so I . . .
Sarah Jean Schwegel, who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), works as the Public Policy and Advocacy specialist at Paraquad in St. Louis, Mo. In 2015, Sarah graduated from Maryville University with a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services. In 2018, she graduated from Saint Louis University with a master’s in Public Administration. Before she started working . . .
At more than 150 MDA Care Centers nationwide, kids and adults living with neuromuscular disease (NMD) have access to multidisciplinary care teams made up of different specialists who can coordinate in one place on an appointment day to optimize a complete care plan. Included on these teams are allied health professionals and social workers who . . .
At more than 150 MDA Care Centers nationwide, kids and adults living with neuromuscular disease (NMD) have access to multidisciplinary care teams made up of different specialists who can coordinate in one place on an appointment day to optimize a complete care plan. Included on these teams are allied health professionals and social workers who . . .
