How do you explain Muscular Dystrophy to an unaffected sibling?

Hi my name is Holly,I'm 13 and I have Congenital Muscular Dystrophy. My brother who doesn't have MD recently asked about why I have a wheelchair. He is only 5 years old and I have told people about my MD. But,how do I help him understand it??? Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

Keep it simple so he'll understand. Tell him that when he moves his muscles, the brain sends a signal to the muscle to move it (like a telephone). Then explain that in your body, the brain has a hard time making the phone call down to your legs (etc.) to get them to move.

Granted this isn't the same type of MD, but I do hope it helps to point you in the right direction.

He's a very lucky boy to have such a caring sister who would want to help him understand something that's so difficult to explain.

Good luck to you both.

http://www.mdausa.org/publications/journ...

Tell him that you have a condition that requires you to use a wheelchair. Don't say you have a disease as that might scare him unnecessarily. Tell him that it probably won't happen to him, but you have to fight it because you have it. Best of luck to you in beating MD!

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　　Myopia 　　Myopathies 　　Myocardial Infarction 　　Myeloproliferative Disorders 　　Myelodysplastic Syndromes 　　Myasthenia Gravis 　　Muscular Dystrophy 　　Muscle Strain 　　Muscle Disorders 　　Mumps 　　Multiple Sclerosis 　　Multiple Myeloma 　　Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia

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