Leigh and Belinda (Phelps) Shorter are the parents of four amazing children, three boys and one girl.
Max born July 2009, William December 2010, Hudson April 2013 and Sofia January 2015, all born healthy beautiful babies.
At no time could they have been ready to receive the news they did in December 2013. They were told Max then 4 and William then 3 had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) a progressive neuromuscular disease that destroys muscle tissue and with a life expectancy of boys living into their twenties.
Their lives were changed beyond comprehension. Everything they had dreamed of for their boys had changed forever. Then just 18 months later, April 2015 they were told Hudson also had DMD. Their hearts breaking for their boys and what they will have to endure.
DMD is a rapidly progressive form of Muscular Dystrophy a genetic disorder usually diagnosed in early childhood. It is caused by the lack of dystrophin, a protein in the muscle tissue. It almost exclusively affects boys, causing them to be wheelchair bound from 8-12 years and leaves them fighting for their lives by their late teens early twenties.
There is no cure. But hope with medical science one will be found to save Max, Will, Hudson and all the other boys and rare girls fighting DMD.
As time goes on the boys needs will increase and with that would come financial pressure that will burden this family who are already facing challenges that most of us cannot comprehend.
Please help us raise funds to ease the burden and some of the financial pressure. Any contribution you feel able to make big or small to help will be gratefully appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story.