There are going to be extreme levels of loss and stress with any life-altering illness but with Duchenne, the losses and stressors tend to skyrocket during adolescence. There’s typically the mobility change and acquisition of a wheelchair. The dynamics of families and peer relationships change, daily routines and structures change, and the frequency of medical appointments often changes. The list really can go on and on and on.
In particular, the ever-increasing physical dependency of Duchenne adds multiple challenging layers to adolescence… and it doesn’t stop at just making friends. Due to the intricate connections between family, friends, and self-development, an interruption in one piece will necessarily affect the others.
In fact, it is safe to say that the physical decline and loss of social opportunities for the adolescent with Duchenne frequently sabotage the skills needed to develop a full identity of self as an adult.
