Recent Quest Articles
The Great Accessible Outdoors
Jessica Albanese, 20, is passionate about the outdoors. The Delaware native, who lives with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), has navigated several of our country’s natural wonders in her power wheelchair.“Traveling is a passion of mine,” Albanese says. “I’ve hiked in the Great Smoky Mountains, I’ve seen the wild ponies at Assateague Island, and I’ve visited the alligators at Everglades National Park.”
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Voice Banking Offers the Promise of a Natural Voice
A strong voice was the foundation of Penny Abreo’s job as a first-grade reading teacher in Houma, La. But when she heard her words slurring and experienced unexplained fatigue and hand cramps, she and her husband, Aaron, sought medical advice.At 41, Penny learned she had ALS. Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neuron disease, ALS affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement such as speaking, walking and other life functions. As the cells stop working, so do the muscles used to do such activities.
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The Power of Role Models
In recent months, I’ve experienced a noticeable decline in my arm and leg strength. My limbs feel heavy. It seems like they succumb a little bit more to gravity each day. One night, I tried to roll over in bed, and it took me six attempts — six! — to succeed. By the time I finally flipped over, I felt like I had just gone to the gym.
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A World of Opportunities
In 2010, Darrin Altman, diagnosed with ALS, faced a professional dilemma. His speech was failing, which threatened his career as a Spanish-language court interpreter. “My doctors at UCLA recommended an app to help me communicate, which worked OK, but not perfectly,” Altman recalls. After testing several alternatives, he decided that the solution was to create his own full-featured text-to-speech app, which he would offer to the world for free.
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A Word from President & CEO Lynn O’Connor Vos
Since joining MDA as president and CEO in October, I’ve had the sincere pleasure of spending time with and learning from our families, leading clinical experts, renowned researchers, dedicated sponsors, and passionate MDA staff and volunteers. The progress we’re making together is unprecedented, and I know it is only the tip of the iceberg. Working together, I see incredible opportunities to push the limits of neuromuscular disease research and provide an even better health care experience for individuals and their families.
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Progress Now Winter 2018
In November, MDA announced 13 new MDA research and development grants, with a total funding commitment of $3.5 million, that are now supporting research projects around the world. The new projects cover a broad range of diseases in MDA’s program and are intended to impact the greater neuromuscular disease landscape.
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Startup Support
Once I was diagnosed with myotonic muscular dystrophy (DM), I sought a support group to learn more about my disease and meet others with the same diagnosis. Shortly after I began attending, the facilitator left the group and I was asked to take over her responsibilities. Talk about trial by fire.
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The Team Approach
Brendan is a curious, bright-eyed 7-year-old with a fun-loving attitude and a buoyant smile. He was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) when he was 23 months old. His mother, Colleen Labbadia, describes his diagnosis as long and heartbreaking but adds that there has been a bright spot. “Brendan is seen at the MDA Care Center at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, and we absolutely love it,” she says. “They have been our silver lining.”
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Creative Control
“I believe that if you are laughing, you are living.” This is 34-year-old Jared Aronson’s mantra. And he’s not particular about what deserves a good guffaw. He’ll laugh out loud over a clever play on words, a ridiculous Twitter post or even a temporary misfire as he masterminds yet another invention. Inventing is what fuels Aronson’s mojo. “I love problem-solving,” he says.
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Meet MDA’s New President & CEO
Global health care leader Lynn O’Connor Vos joined the Muscular Dystrophy Association last fall as its new president and CEO. With a clinical nursing background and decades of experience building and leading health companies to drive technology and innovation in patient care, Lynn says her entire career has led to this unprecedented moment with MDA.
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