A Sibling Story
Victoria was diagnosed with Merosin Deficient Congenital Muscular Dystrophy at age 9 months (via muscle biopsy). When her little brother, Matthew, was born two and a half years later, he was diagnosed with the same type of muscular dystrophy. Victoria developed scoliosis at approximately age 5; Matthew around age 3. Both received their initial VEPTR implants within a year and a half of each other.
After several VEPTR lengthenings, Dr. Roye now considers Victoria a candiate for spinal fusion. "The VEPTR has improved [their] ability to sit, breathe, eat and thrive nutritionally," their mother states. She believes the VEPTR placement has provided both of her children with a quality of life which he would not otherwise have.