Help Daniel Keep Fighting DMD

My name is Daniel. I’m 21, from Mount Maunganui, and I’ve lived with Duchenne muscular dystrophy my whole life.

DMD is a genetic condition that slowly breaks down every muscle in the body. For most of my life the fight was about my arms and legs. Now it’s about the muscle that matters most, my heart.

The heart is a muscle too, and DMD wears it down the same way, leaving it enlarged, scarred and weak. For most people with my condition, this is what becomes life-threatening. That’s where I am now. My heart is severely weakened, and it’s the reason I’m reaching out.

But I’m not ready to stop. I’m still walking at 21, which is rare with DMD, and I’ve still got so much I want to do and so much life left to live.

There is real hope. New treatments are emerging overseas that could protect my heart and slow this disease, some in trials, some awaiting approval. The hard part is that none are available here in New Zealand, so reaching them means pursuing access in other countries, and that comes at significant cost.

I’d never usually ask for help, but I can’t do this alone. Every donation, and even just sharing my story, brings me closer to a real chance at more time.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

— Daniel