Name: Ralph  Alter: 24 Jahre alt

Land: South Africa

LGMD Unter-Typ: LGMD2B

 

In welchem Alter wurde bei Ihnen die Diagnose gestellt?:

I was diagnosed at the age of 23 – just after finishing my Rescue Diving Course.

Was waren Ihre ersten Symptome?:

I live a very active, adrenaline pumping lifestyle and after I noticed I was running slower and slower every day, I started training harder and harder as well.  But in the end my body just kept getting weaker and weaker.  After completing my diving I decided to get some help.

Haben Sie andere Familienmitglieder, die LGMD haben?

No, I am the only one and my family took quite a hit when they heard my diagnosis.  Didn’t affect me really.  Just saw it as another challenge.  But after a while, reality really sank in…if you know what I mean.

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

Acceptance.  The fact that I can’t do all the activities that I used to do is quite a challenge.  Hard to give up skydiving, white water rafting, and off-roading because it took too much strain on my arms and legs.

Was ist Ihre größte Errungenschaft?:

Living the life most people dream of and being an inspiration to everyone around me.  When you have the right mindset and a strong will there is nothing you can’t accomplish.

There’s a story that inspires me to live a full life.  Publius Horatius Cocles was an officer in the army of the ancient Roman Republic who famously defended the Pons Sublicius during the war between Rome and Clusium.  The poem goes:  Then out spoken brave Horatius, the Captain of the gate:  “To every man upon this earth.  Death cometh soon or late.  And how can man die better than facing fearful odds.”

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

I always believed that I was unbreakable.  Since my diagnosis, I’ve realized that I am unstoppable.  There’s only life and death and by choosing life, my dreams are only a short breath away.  And I intend to close that gap.

Was möchten Sie der Welt über LGMD mitteilen?:

Never look down on people who suffer from any form of a disease.  The mindset you need to live with and overcome such an obstacle might just be too much for you to handle.

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

I would start running and never stop until my legs break because for the moment…I’ll be free!

Wenn Sie weitere "LGMD Spotlight Interviews" lesen oder sich für ein Interview zur Verfügung stellen möchten, besuchen Sie bitte unsere Website: https://www.lgmd-info.org/spotlight-interviews