Monsters Fight On

Well, slowly my knitted monsters are finding new homes with adults and kids who live and fight on with chronic illness. I am taking monsters to my doctor and physical therapy appointments and giving them to patients who may need some monster help and hugs.  The pain clinic has also asked if I can give them some monsters for their patients.   Not sure how many monsters I will be making and what I will be able to commit to because of my own chronic health battles.  But, it seems that monster giving is in high demand.

There are so many people in the world who are battling chronic conditions – from cancer, multiple sclerosis, Chari malformation, muscular dystrophy and much more.  I hope we all find a way to help each other fight our own monsters in our lives.

One of my monster recipients is Charles. He was born with a genetic,  life-threatening condition called Duchenne Muscular dystrophy.  Duchenne MD has no cure. It is the most common form of muscular dystrophy in children, but affects only males. It appears between the ages of 2 and 6. The muscles decrease in size and grow weaker over time  until they have stopped functioning altogether. Disease progression varies, but many sufferers need a wheelchair by the age of 12, as their arms, legs, and spine become progressively deformed. Severe breathing and heart problems mark the later stages of the disease.  People who are diagnosed with Duchenne MD die young, living until their late teens or early 20s.

Charles loves his new monster. So far, the monster’s name is Grrr. I am so glad to give this monster to him as he fights his daily battles with Duchenne MD.   To learn more about muscular dystrophy and find resources to help you raise your child with Duchenne MD, go to the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy web  site.

There is also a wonderful documentary about another man who battled Duchenne MD and yet still pursued his dreams and life to the fullest. It can be seen below in a three part video.

What he shares about living with chronic illness reminds me that we are not alone in our battles.  And we must keep going to live, create and give to the world around us.  So, I challenge you to keep going, keep creating, and keep giving. A monster a day definitely chases some of my chronic blues away.

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

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