The disease almost always affects boys, and symptoms usually begin early in childhood. Children with DMD have a hard time standing up, walking, and climbing stairs. Many eventually need ...

As a parent and caregiver to three sons with DMD, columnist Betty Vertin's definition of what success looks like has changed over the years.

This means there is a 25% chance of having a male child with DMD, and a 25% chance of having a female carrier child. A male with DMD also has a 50% chance of passing on the gene alteration.