February's Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month

Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month  MD is a disease close to my heart. My Aunt Sissy was affected by MD when she was a baby, never quite having the opportunity to walk. She lived into her forties and was an amazing woman who was an avid reader and loved Monday night football.    My Aunt Sissy was cared for by my grandmother who would lift her to and from her wheelchair, paint her nails, style her hair, cook her meals and provide all of her care.  MD is a genetic disorder that weakens the muscles that help the body move. People with MD have incorrect or missing information in their genes, which prevents them from making the proteins they need for healthy muscles. The symptoms of MD often begin in childhood and result in the need for a wheelchair. MD is an inherited condition and there is no method of prevention.  However, research and awareness is ongoing. Within the United States, the three primary federally funded organizations that focus on muscular dystrophy include the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). For the next four weeks, if you purchase a yoga bag from my Etsy page.  I will donate 50% of the profit to MDA. "MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education."  Click MDA, Etsy page, or picture of yoga bag to be redirected to approproriate website