But he didn't walk until 22 months and we kind of put that off well it because he's a big child, said Trenton s mother, Daryn Kirchfeld. A protein in the muscles that is either missing or deficient causes it. There's nothing you can do. You can do stretching exercises, and it was hard as parents to accept that your child has a fatal disease, said Daryn Kirchfeld. For now, the treatment is supportive including anti-inflammatory medicines, like steroids and physical therapy.
Animal research replacing the protein is also encouraging.
These therapies, at least in the mouse model, have given us hope that maybe, one day, we can intervene in these children, and hope to improve their outcome, if not cure them, said Dr. Simpson. Until a cure is found, patients like Trenton will progress to being wheelchair bound by the age of twelve. The muscular dystrophy association is working hard for a cure. Copyright 2000 Belo Interactive Inc., All Rights Reserved.