Zachsbattle: Fighting Duchenne

The 11th December 2017 is a day that I will never be able to forget. It was the day that I received the news that no parent ever wants to hear. 

My beautiful, sweet son Zachary was diagnosed with a disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I had never heard of the condition before, but I was about to learn that it is as cruel as cancer.

Duchenne is 100% fatal. It causes every muscle in the body to slowly waste away. Most children become wheelchair bound between ages 8-10. As teenagers the heart and lung muscles will begin to waste, and many boys do not even make it to 20. There is currently no cure.

All of the hopes and dreams I ever had for my son were shattered.  He was only five. I felt like my heart had been broken into a thousand pieces. It's the sort of thing you might read about in the news, not the sort of thing that you ever expect to happen to you. To happen to your child.

My heart hurts just as much as it did on the day of diagnosis but I will never break. Every day I'm learning how to be stronger because my baby needs me. I've learnt that time is so precious and it cannot be wasted. I dedicate my life to filling his with love and laughter and joy.

There are so many kind people who have been offering to raise money to help me ensure that Zach's life is full of experiences, opportunities and happiness. Which is what has led me to setting up this crowdfunding page for him.

As well as ensuring  Zach has an extraordinary life, it is also important for me to start thinking about all of the hugely expensive equipment he will need. The power wheelchairs, the housing adaptions. These things will cost us thousands. It terrifies me to think about the future but I also cannot hide from the reality of it.

Lastly, a portion of everything we raise will be going directly to Duchenne UK, a charity dedicated to funding research into potential cures and treatments in the hope that we may one day find a cure.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story.

Instagram: Zachsbattle