Hands On Holistic Health

Muscular Dystrophy 

     As a baby, Harley was sick a lot, suffering from ear infections and other ailments requiring antibiotics. He was allergic to many formulas making it hard for him to get the nutrients to gain weight. Naturally, he was a very fussy baby and had a hard time keeping food down. As he grew, he always appeared pale and sickly in the face. One family member said his face looked that of an old man. He had a grimaced appearance and became very angry at times.

     Harley’s heart was always racing and it felt like it was going to beat right out of his chest. His chest was a bit deformed as it came to an obvious point which we later learned is called pigeon breasted, with the right side more pronounced than the left. He was incontinent of urine quite frequently long after being potty trained. He learned to walk later than the average age and always had a hard time getting up off the floor. Stairs were always a problem for him and he favored his right hip frequently. He had poor endurance for walking; for example, when we would take him to the mall, he frequently complained of his legs ‘hurting’ and would ask to be picked up and carried. Once his legs were rested, he could manage to walk a short distance before complaining again that his legs hurt.

     In 2004, at age six, Harley was diagnosed with Duchene’s Muscular Dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy is a muscle degeneration disease and the doctors say that once Harley loses the use of his legs that he would never get it back. Steroids and Growth Hormone were given to him to help keep him mobile and help him to grow. I didn’t see the results I wanted but I continued to keep him on them. He is very small for his age and always has been. At the time of this writing, he is 10 years old and appears to be about the size of a normal seven year old. His behavior went from bad to worse with the use of the steroids and the growth hormone and they gave him many headaches and stomach problems.

     Jana Smith introduced us to TKM around May of 2007 when Harley was 9. Before we began the sessions, his muscle disease had progressed to point of him walking on his toes. His calf muscles were degenerating and tightening, pulling on his Achilles tendon, making it impossible for him to walk heel-toe. Soon after starting TKM, I quit giving him both prescription medications. Since then, I have seen many great changes in Harley. Now, he’s back to walking, leading with his heel like normal. Over the summer, he has grown two inches and he is able to get around much easier. No longer does he favor his right side. His chest has lain back down to almost normal and he can get up and down the stairs with much more ease than before. His heart beat and breathing have evened out and he sleeps well through the night. He does not wet the bed as much as before; maybe once every two weeks, compared to 4 or 5 times a week. I look at him now and I see a happy little boy. He is much more loving and mellow. His stamina has greatly improved; for example, we took him fishing one day last fall and he walked all along the river bank and hiked up and down the hills all day long with not one complaint of his legs hurting!

     Currently, Harley is a yellow belt in Shotokan Karate. I now have proof that he is improving because I see it everyday. I know we will continue to see results with time and persistence.