09/17/2015

NAME:  Gitika & Gopika   AGE:   38 yrs old

COUNTRY:  India

LGMD Sub-Type (if known):  LGMD2B

At what age were you diagnosed:

We were diagnosed at the age of 21 yrs.

What were your first symptoms:

Our first symptoms included difficulty standing on our toes and needing to hold onto a handrails after ascending 2 floors.

Do you have other family members who have LGMD:

We are a set of identical twins suffering from Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy.  There is no family history within the past 5 generations.

What do you find to be the greatest challenges in living with LGMD:

Our greatest challenge is to overcome our gears, growing with this progressive disease and remaining positive.  Gitika had to quit he successful career and become a homemaker.  Gopika still continues running her tutorials at and education center.  She use to teach senior classes in a reputed school earlier.

What is your greatest accomplishment:

Our greatest accomplishment has been to come to terms with living this disease and working around our daily chores with continued enthusiasm – in spite of several of several let downs.

How has LGMD influenced you into becoming the person you are today:

We both have become more tolerant of people and situations, as we have to let go of our inhibitions and ask for support several times.

What do you want the world to know about LGMD:

Often, in the absence of any external visual feedback, it becomes difficult for people to comprehend the level of disability (unless using a power wheelchair) with this disease.  We want the world to be equally passionate about LGMD patients and provide some benefits as given to other disease sufferers.

If your LGMD could be “cured” tomorrow, what would be the first thing that you would want to do:

Gitika would like to resume her career and go on a beach destination.

Gopika wishes to run on a treadmill and resume exercising at the gym.

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