17 Muscles to :)...Give some to G!
Donation protected
It takes 17 muscles to smile..26 to frown.
Meet Giuseppe! One of the sweetest children you'll ever meet. He turned 6 and was diagnosed with THE most aggressive form of Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy. There is no cure.
Life is not fair.
America has little to offer; but some other countries have research studies which may prolong his beautiful life with his family and friends.
He may not be able to run or climb... but with our help he can fight!
Please donate $17 in his name or whatever you can to help his smile bless us a few years longer. I realize that not everyone is in a position to help but please include Giuseppe in your prayers and share and hopefully... Give him some years!

UPDATE: By Peter Comunale Feb. 13th 2017
Dear Friends and Family
We wanted to take some time to update you on Giuseppes fight and also thank you so so much for all your donations and prayers and well wishes and support. Giuseppe had an all day appointment at the MDA to meet all the specialists and start the process of trying to slow down this horrible disease. Unfortunately (as previously thought he did) Giuseppe DOES NOT qualify for the newly approved "Exon Skipping" treatment due to the cause of his Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy... Mary and I were so upset because the only thing they can offer him at this time is steroid treatment. Were upset because all steroids do is temporarily slow his muscle loss down... It basically may give him another year or two of mobility. It also comes with many side effects... One of them being severe weight gain.. So we are going to try to make sure he eats as healthy as possible.... We are also working on a foundation for G and all families whos children are also suffering from all types of muscular dystrophy... The "Courageous G" Foundation ...... www.findacurenow.com
The site is not yet up as we are still working on getting the foundation up and running. I will notify everyone once we get it going 100%. The Foundation will offer support for families and organizations such as Levines Children Hospital and the MDA. It will also hopefully help find a cure for little G.
When your child is diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy it almost becomes a full time job! Between doctors appointments, hours upon hours of research, stretching his little muscles and also making sure you thank everyone for there love and support. We are currently looking into different trials both here in America and in Europe. I refuse to believe that steroid treatments are the ONLY option! Steroids are a band-aid ...a quick temporary fix if you will but not a cure! The numbers can run into the hundreds of thousands to help get him the right treatment...Especially if we need to move overseas to get him the help he deperately needs... When your child has DMD it becomes a race against the clock.. Lots of frustration and panic... We had no idea our baby was suffering inside until he turned 6 and was diagnosed.
I would like to thank you all again for everything and ask that you pass this along... Not just to help Giuseppe but to help raise awareness.. There are hundreds of children suffering from this and there parents just dont know. I am including some info about muscular dystrophy and what to look for should you have concerns for your own children. G's life has not been easy.. Since birth he's had several different ailments and procedures.. Not just a heart murmur but just the fact that he had to wear a helmet for over a year to reshape his little head... AND NOW THIS!! We will continue to fight and your support has made me fight even harder.. We love and thank you!!! PLEASE read below.. It could vastly improve another childs life with DMD whos family is not yet aware..
What is Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. It is one of nine types of muscular dystrophy.
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.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe type of muscular dystrophy.[1] The symptom of muscle weakness usually begin around the age of four in boys and worsens quickly.[2] Typically muscle loss occurs first in the upper legs and pelvis followed by those of the upper arms. This can result in trouble standing up.[1] Most are unable to walk by the age of 12.[2] Affected muscles may look larger due to increased fat content. Scoliosis is also common. Some may have intellectual disability. Females with a single copy of the defective gene may show mild symptoms.[1]
No cure for muscular dystrophy is known. Physical therapy, braces, and corrective surgery may help with some symptoms.[2] Assisted ventilation may be required in those with weakness of breathing muscles.[1] Medications used include steroids to slow muscle degeneration, anticonvulsants to control seizures and some muscle activity, and immunosuppressants to delay damage to dying muscle cells.[2]
DMD affects about one in 5,000 males at birth. It is the most common type of muscular dystrophy.[1] The average life expectancy is 26;[3] however, with excellent care, some may live into their 30s or 40s. Gene therapy, as a treatment, is in the early stages of study in humans.
What to look for:
Children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are often late walkers.
In toddlers, parents may notice enlarged calf muscles (see image at right). This enlargement is known as pseudohypertrophy, or "false enlargement," because the muscle tissue is abnormal and may contain scar tissue.
A preschooler with DMD may seem clumsy and fall often. Parents also may note that children have trouble climbing stairs, getting up from the floor or running.
By school age, children may walk on their toes or the balls of their feet with a slightly waddling gait, and fall frequently. To try to keep their balance, they may stick out their bellies and pull back their shoulders. Children also have difficulty raising their arms.
Many children with DMD begin using a wheelchair sometime between ages 7 and 12. Transition to a wheelchair usually is a gradual process; at first, the chair may be required only to conserve the child's energy when covering long distances. (Children often experience renewed independence once they fully transition to a power wheelchair.)
Meet Giuseppe! One of the sweetest children you'll ever meet. He turned 6 and was diagnosed with THE most aggressive form of Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy. There is no cure.
Life is not fair.
America has little to offer; but some other countries have research studies which may prolong his beautiful life with his family and friends.
He may not be able to run or climb... but with our help he can fight!
Please donate $17 in his name or whatever you can to help his smile bless us a few years longer. I realize that not everyone is in a position to help but please include Giuseppe in your prayers and share and hopefully... Give him some years!
UPDATE: By Peter Comunale Feb. 13th 2017
Dear Friends and Family
We wanted to take some time to update you on Giuseppes fight and also thank you so so much for all your donations and prayers and well wishes and support. Giuseppe had an all day appointment at the MDA to meet all the specialists and start the process of trying to slow down this horrible disease. Unfortunately (as previously thought he did) Giuseppe DOES NOT qualify for the newly approved "Exon Skipping" treatment due to the cause of his Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy... Mary and I were so upset because the only thing they can offer him at this time is steroid treatment. Were upset because all steroids do is temporarily slow his muscle loss down... It basically may give him another year or two of mobility. It also comes with many side effects... One of them being severe weight gain.. So we are going to try to make sure he eats as healthy as possible.... We are also working on a foundation for G and all families whos children are also suffering from all types of muscular dystrophy... The "Courageous G" Foundation ...... www.findacurenow.com
The site is not yet up as we are still working on getting the foundation up and running. I will notify everyone once we get it going 100%. The Foundation will offer support for families and organizations such as Levines Children Hospital and the MDA. It will also hopefully help find a cure for little G.
When your child is diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy it almost becomes a full time job! Between doctors appointments, hours upon hours of research, stretching his little muscles and also making sure you thank everyone for there love and support. We are currently looking into different trials both here in America and in Europe. I refuse to believe that steroid treatments are the ONLY option! Steroids are a band-aid ...a quick temporary fix if you will but not a cure! The numbers can run into the hundreds of thousands to help get him the right treatment...Especially if we need to move overseas to get him the help he deperately needs... When your child has DMD it becomes a race against the clock.. Lots of frustration and panic... We had no idea our baby was suffering inside until he turned 6 and was diagnosed.
I would like to thank you all again for everything and ask that you pass this along... Not just to help Giuseppe but to help raise awareness.. There are hundreds of children suffering from this and there parents just dont know. I am including some info about muscular dystrophy and what to look for should you have concerns for your own children. G's life has not been easy.. Since birth he's had several different ailments and procedures.. Not just a heart murmur but just the fact that he had to wear a helmet for over a year to reshape his little head... AND NOW THIS!! We will continue to fight and your support has made me fight even harder.. We love and thank you!!! PLEASE read below.. It could vastly improve another childs life with DMD whos family is not yet aware..
What is Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. It is one of nine types of muscular dystrophy.
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.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe type of muscular dystrophy.[1] The symptom of muscle weakness usually begin around the age of four in boys and worsens quickly.[2] Typically muscle loss occurs first in the upper legs and pelvis followed by those of the upper arms. This can result in trouble standing up.[1] Most are unable to walk by the age of 12.[2] Affected muscles may look larger due to increased fat content. Scoliosis is also common. Some may have intellectual disability. Females with a single copy of the defective gene may show mild symptoms.[1]
No cure for muscular dystrophy is known. Physical therapy, braces, and corrective surgery may help with some symptoms.[2] Assisted ventilation may be required in those with weakness of breathing muscles.[1] Medications used include steroids to slow muscle degeneration, anticonvulsants to control seizures and some muscle activity, and immunosuppressants to delay damage to dying muscle cells.[2]
DMD affects about one in 5,000 males at birth. It is the most common type of muscular dystrophy.[1] The average life expectancy is 26;[3] however, with excellent care, some may live into their 30s or 40s. Gene therapy, as a treatment, is in the early stages of study in humans.
What to look for:
Children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are often late walkers.
In toddlers, parents may notice enlarged calf muscles (see image at right). This enlargement is known as pseudohypertrophy, or "false enlargement," because the muscle tissue is abnormal and may contain scar tissue.
A preschooler with DMD may seem clumsy and fall often. Parents also may note that children have trouble climbing stairs, getting up from the floor or running.
By school age, children may walk on their toes or the balls of their feet with a slightly waddling gait, and fall frequently. To try to keep their balance, they may stick out their bellies and pull back their shoulders. Children also have difficulty raising their arms.
Many children with DMD begin using a wheelchair sometime between ages 7 and 12. Transition to a wheelchair usually is a gradual process; at first, the chair may be required only to conserve the child's energy when covering long distances. (Children often experience renewed independence once they fully transition to a power wheelchair.)
Organizer and beneficiary
Yvette Pellegrino
Organizer
Mooresville, NC
Peter Comunale
Beneficiary