In 2006, Julian and Sharyn Thompson found out that their son James has
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Duchenne). Duchenne is an insidious gender-linked (in
99% of cases) muscle-wasting disease that leaves little boys (and in some
cases, girls) unable to walk before they make their teenage years. As there is
no cure, Duchenne results in premature death by late teens/early adulthood in
100% of cases. Even though it is a genetic disease, in up to 40% of cases there
is no family history and the disease arises by way of a spontaneous mutation at
conception. This means ALL CHILDREN conceived are at risk of being born with
Duchenne.
