I am a clinical psychologist specializing in child behavior and I’m married to an incredible woman who is a pastor. We have made it our life’s mission to help other people. In 2006, our world was turned upside down when our son Joel was diagnosed with Duchenne and we were left wondering who would help us.

As the heft of Joel’s diagnoses settled in, we looked for answers, for hope, and for a community. We found Pat Furlong and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. Thirteen years later we can’t imagine our life without our PPMD family. Like many of you reading this email, PPMD has been there in our darkest moments and has helped us celebrate some of our greatest milestones. Now it’s our turn to help PPMD ensure even stronger tomorrows. Join us by making a donation to PPMD today. All donations will be matched thanks to a generous gift from this incredible community!

When Joel was first diagnosed, Rachel and I looked for Duchenne trials. We were devastated because at the time there were only three. Fast forward 14 years and there are dozens of trials with different approaches to slow the disease progression. PPMD has made that happen. Pat and her team are moving as fast as they can to advance research and improve care. PPMD gives us hope.

As Joel approaches adulthood, PPMD is once again anticipating our needs by providing teens and young adults with the tools they need to advocate for their own care. They give us guidance and help us navigate the complex world of specialists and appointments. They tell us the questions to ask and more importantly, they help Joel learn how to ask them himself. They empower patients to gain access to their own medical records, and with The Duchenne Registry app, provide a means to do so. PPMD helps young men and women with Duchenne thrive and become advocates and leaders in our community.

Perhaps, most importantly, PPMD defines and redefines how we care for our loved ones with Duchenne. It’s the defining and redefining of care, and PPMD’s insistence that every person living with Duchenne receive the best care available, that has most directly impacted our family. PPMD is more than just critical resources at a critical time – they hold our hands and guide us on this journey.

I think we all hope that one day we won’t need an organization like PPMD because there will be better treatments and greater access to them. But today we need PPMD, and they need us to continue the fight alongside them. Together we can fund projects and improve care. We can help every single person living with Duchenne have a stronger tomorrow. Please donate today and have your gift doubled!

From the Poysky family, to yours – Happy Holidays!

James Poysky, PhD
PPMD Parent

P.S. Your support to PPMD this holiday season helps ensure better todays and stronger tomorrows. Donate now and your gift will be doubled!