INDIVIDUAL WITH LGMD: Martijn

01/06/2015:

NAME: Martijn LGMD2A - Martijn   

IDADE: 23

PAÍS: Países Baixos

LGMD Sub-tipo: LGMD 2A / Calpainopathy

COM QUE IDADE FOI DIAGNOSTICADO:  Approximately around my 15th birthday.

QUAIS FORAM OS SEUS PRIMEIROS SINTOMAS:
The first symptoms were visible since I was a baby. I used to creep like a crab and I was physically ‘different’ from my peers. I was active in a number of different sports, such as: gymnastics, volleyball, judo and tennis. But my performance was declining due to the on-going progression of muscle weakness in my body.

TEM OUTROS FAMILIARES QUE SOFREM DE LGMD:   No.

QUAIS SÃO, NA SUA OPINIÃO, OS MAIORES DESAFIOS DE VIVER COM LGMD:
The more practical problems are worse to me. For example walking by my own on the street with crooked sidewalk tiles is quite challenging. It requires a lot of attention and I get tired of this. In most cases I decide to use a wheelchair if I have to walk long distances. Also, explaining my muscle disease to strangers is not my favorite hobby. I am a little bit unsure on how much information I should provide. Some of them are asking about the ‘whole process’ and the more personal things. And some others feel frightened to ask me about any details. Talking about my disease is not a problem for me, but determining how much information to share is the challenge.

QUAL É A SUA MAIOR REALIZAÇÃO:
Do you have a few seconds? One of my greatest accomplishes are skydiving, studying and doing everything that healthy people consider as ‘not possible’ for disabled people. I do like to cross the borders in my live. I am always looking for adventures, like traveling with friends (actually we scheduled a trip to Iceland in February 2015) and so on. Besides that, a personal accomplishment to me is a presentation about my muscle disease and the way I am dealing with the disease to about 500 medical students.

COMO É QUE A LGMD O INFLUENCIOU A TORNAR-SE A PESSOA QUE É HOJE?
LGMD has influenced my life for sure! It has made me more mature in many ways. The way I handle problems and enjoy my life has significantly changed since my diagnosis.

O QUE É QUE QUER QUE O MUNDO SAIBA SOBRE A LGMD:
People with LGMD or any other muscular disease are not different from healthy people, they just may need a little assistance, at times. Also, do not talk to the person behind the wheelchair, but speak directly to the person in the wheelchair.

SE A SUA LGMD PUDESSE SER "CURADA" AMANHÃ, QUAL SERIA A PRIMEIRA COISA QUE GOSTARIA DE FAZER:
I would want to go Sky Diving solo!