Competition

Watched two NFL games over the weekend. In one game, a young star quarterback worked through the destabilizing pain of a high ankle sprain and willed his team to a win. In the other, the visiting team simply wanted to win more than the home team, in a snow storm.

In each instance, it was the WANT factor that prevailed.

What do we DMD caregivers want for our stricken children? A cure is obvious. But what short of a cure do we want? A slowing of the muscle degeneration, sure. More range of motion on less doses of steroids, absolutely. Less fear of the future, you bet.

I know labs are working hard on the DMD mystery. But those losing teams I watched over the weekend worked hard, as well, nonetheless found a way to lose anyway. What level of WANT makes a real difference?

The kind of want that becomes the primary purpose for research constituents to enthusiastically go to work each day and to smartly consider going somewhere never visited before. Or, taking a promising approach, such as CRSPR genetic therapy and pushing our understanding of it to outer limits. Not being satisfied with “standard care” but rather aiming towards break-through phases of research that could not be imagined five years ago.

To the research teams working DMD, be more daring, push the envelope even further, and develop a competitive zeal to prevail against each other and against bad odds.

No pain, no gain … whether winning a football game or finding mitigating approaches to the effects of DMD.

Kindly yours,

Papa in Frankin