Welcome!

As you may have guessed, my name is Mike Greene and what you may not have guessed is that I have Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD) and this is my story, putting one foot in front of the other. I started this site in hopes that my story might be of interest or maybe even some help to others out there with Muscular Dystrophy or families who might have a loved one with MD and are looking for support with someone that has a certain understanding. If I am unable to help, hopefully another visitor to this site might be able to.

My story starts out like countless others, I was diagnosed in 1962 at the age of 3 with 7 distinct types of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (There are at least 19 forms of LGMD). I was seen regularly in Iowa City while growing up and I was also flown around the United States to different hospitals so other specialists in the field could conduct tests with me since my condition was somewhat unique at the time. Because of the different types of LGMD I was diagnosed with, I have never to this day been treated other then exercise.

Somewhere between 5 and 7 years of age the doctors began performing Open Muscle Biopsies. I have had several on my left leg and several on my right leg. Fortunately for me I was 16 by the time they wanted to start on my arms. I had a hard time fitting in as it was so I was not willing to allow my arms to be scared up like my legs, so at age 16, I stopped allowing it.

I have lived here in Florida since the early 80’s and used to go the clinic here locally at first, but after a couple of years I stopped going. I stopped going for several reasons, one, it was hard taking the time off work. Two, I just didn’t see any reason to since there were no cures for someone of my age and all the doctors seemed to have to say was that they were not used to seeing someone of my age not only still living, but still on my feet. The doctors kept telling me (and still do) that physically and aerodynamically I can’t walk. They are not sure how I manage it (I guess I am like the Bumble Bee), so I still keep telling them that I put one foot in front of the other just like everyone else.