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MDA’s award-winning bimonthly national magazine goes to everyone registered with MDA, as well as to MDA clinics, researchers and subscribers.
Quest publishes articles on all aspects of living with a neuromuscular disease, and updates on research findings. Quest’s circulation is 125,000.


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  Home> Publications > QUEST > QUEST Vol 8 No 3 June 2001

OFF THE VENT AND YEARNING TO LEARN

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Hoping for a Miracle But Taking What Comes

What Now?

Brent Kurtz's story was told in "High-Tech Babies, Hands-On Coping" (Quest, vol. 7, no. 1).

Brent Curtz today
Brent Kurtz today

Brent, who has nemaline myopathy, won't be 3 until October, but he's already going to school, through an Ohio-based early intervention program. The son of Doug and Tina Kurtz of Dayton, Ohio, he's able to be off the ventilator while he's awake and is getting occupational, physical and speech therapies as part of his school day. He's also learning sign language so his communication skills won't suffer while he catches up on speaking. "Tina and I feel he's just like a sponge now," his father says of Brent's new rapid learning phase.

Brent Curtz as a baby
Brent Kurtz as a baby

Tina continues to work as a high school social studies teacher and cheerleading coach. Doug, who stayed home with Brent during his first year, now works part-time. In July, he plans to start nursing school.

The Kurtzes have nursing care for Brent 18H hours a day and have him to themselves in the evening. Doug and Tina recently took students from her school on a three-day trip to Washington. The trip took three months of planning, but was worth it.

"Parents need that time to get away and recharge their batteries," Doug says.

He and Tina maintain and update their Web site, now at www.caringbridge.com/page/brentkurtz.  

 
     
     
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