Living a Full Life With MD

Like other students at John Glenn High School, Westland Mich., Mike Frank has dreams for his future.

But Frank’s goals are different than most of his classmates because of his premature birth and muscular dystrophy.

“I was born four months premature and weighed just 1 pound, 9 ounces,” said Frank, who is now 18. “And because I was 12 inches long, I was known as ‘Foot–Long Frank.’”

Frank suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disease that affects fewer than 200,000 in the United States. It is a debilitating condition – but one that’s seen recent advancements in the search for a cure.

Frank said that his future goals are to live one day at a time and to achieve his daily goals. These goals include staying healthy, going to school, and playing hockey.

Frank was diagnosed with Duchenne’s at 5. The disability has forced Frank to use a wheelchair and depend on others for help eating, dressing, and using the bathroom.

Frank will need that help for the rest of his life since Duchenne’s destroys muscle tissue all over the body, according to WebMD.

Duchenne’s symptoms appear in male children before age 6. Symptoms include muscle weakness of the legs and pelvis, and loss of muscle mass is common. Eventually, the disability spreads to the legs, arms and spine. Early signs may consist of an enlargement of the calf muscles, low endurance and difficulties walking or standing.