09/30/2015:

Name:  Brad  Alter: 51 yrs. old

Land: Vereinigte Staaten

LGMD Unter-Typ: LGMD2B/Miyoshi Myopathy

 

In welchem Alter wurde bei Ihnen die Diagnose gestellt?:

I first started having symptoms at 18. But it wasn’t until about 10 years later that a neurologist told me I had Miyoshi.  Then I had to wait another 10 years for the gene to be discovered before there was a way to confirm that that was what I have.

Was waren Ihre ersten Symptome?:

I couldn’t stand on my toes, initially just on one side.

Haben Sie andere Familienmitglieder, die LGMD haben?

Nein

Was sind für Sie die größten Herausforderungen im Leben mit LGMD?:

That there is a lot more planning involved in scheduling any activity.  A lot of everyday activities (travelling, shopping, going to a restaurant) involve a lot more things that have to be paid attention to.

Was ist Ihre größte Errungenschaft?:

In 2000 I put together a website about dysferlin (the gene for my LGMD subtype).  I didn’t know anything about web design, but I wanted other patients to have a source of information about the disease and what research was going on.  Through that, I was contacted by the Jain family after one of their children was diagnosed—they later started the Jain Foundation, which supports research on my subtype.  In 2007 the Jain Foundation organized first research conference on dysferlin.  I kept pinching myself the entire time thinking that this couldn’t be real—there was actually a conference dedicated to this disease!

Wie hat LGMD Sie zu der Person gemacht, die Sie heute sind?

I think it has made me more considerate and aware of others.  I was always very independent when I was young, but needing help with some things, and also wanting to work with others to find cures for LGMDs, has taught me the importance of asking for help when you need it, offering help when you can, and working together.

Was möchten Sie der Welt über LGMD mitteilen?:

First, that it exists.  I think a lot of people have the idea that MD only affects young boys, or at least children.  I did before I started having symptoms.  I want them to know that there are many different types of MD, and that symptoms can start at any age.

Secondly, I think society tends to view disability as a black and white thing.  That is, one is either disabled and may need help, or they are completely fine and don’t.   But for a condition like LGMD where symptoms often progress slowly, when exactly does one become disabled?  I think the way things are set up often discourages people who are able and who want to work from doing so, and from doing all they can with their lives

I want other patients to know that they aren’t alone.  When I was in grad school, I was extremely worried about my MD (which wasn’t really diagnosed), but I didn’t feel like I could share that with anyone.  Many years later, I met another patient who also has LGMD, who was in grad school at the same university at the same time as me!  Even though LGMD is a rare disease, there are other people out there and it’s good to connect with them.

Wenn Ihre LGMD morgen "geheilt" werden könnte, was würden Sie als Erstes tun wollen?:

Either go ice skating or skiing.  Before I started having symptoms I was a competitive figure skater, and it would be really nice to be able to do that again.  I also did a lot of skiing when I was younger, and loved it.

 

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