Re-Imagining Parenting From a Wheelchair

Yumi Shim always knew she wanted to have kids. But after a muscular dystrophy diagnosis in her early 20s and a frank conversation with her doctor about parenting with a progressive muscle disease years later, Yumi’s hopes of becoming a mom were waning. “So we left that appointment and we got in my car and I cried and I cried and I cried.” Now, ten years after that appointment, Yumi is the proud mom of two kids. In this episode, she shares the challenges, triumphs, and joys of raising two able-bodied children as a mom in a wheelchair.

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To hear more stories of LGMD like Yumi’s, follow her on Instagram @DearLGMD, a storytelling space featuring individuals affected by Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. @DearLGMD’s vision is to expand awareness and connection, one story at a time.

With emerging treatments on the horizon, it is more important than ever to get a genetic diagnosis and consider participating in a disease-specific patient registry. Simply being registered in a patient registry can drive research forward and open doors to find others who genuinely know what you are experiencing. Visit https://lgmd-info.org/ for general LGMD resources and to learn about access to genetic testing. Visit https://www.jain-foundation.org for LGMDR2/2B/Dysferlinopathy/Miyoshi Myopathy specific information. 

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