Nathan Miller
Our twelfth Inspirational Family is the Miller family. Nathan Miller is a nine year old boy in 4th grade living in Canton, MI.
Nathan was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) when he was in kindergarten. DMD, is a progressive, muscle-wasting disease commonly found in boys, and there is currently no cure. As most children gain strength with age, Nathan and others like him, will continue to lose the ability to use their muscles. Eventually, children with DMD have heart and lung complications. Many children with DMD are in wheelchairs by middle school, and do not live into their 30s.
When the family heard the DMD diagnosis for Nathan, their lives and dreams seemed to shatter. Prior to their son’s diagnosis, they had never heard of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Immediately, they realized they needed to focus on a new normal by determining if they were going to let this diagnosis take over, or embrace hope and fight the disease. They have since been in the fight to find treatments, a cure, and to find ways to allow Nathan the best life possible.
Nathan is a very strong-willed boy, and we are told sometimes that can be frustrating for others to deal with, but the Miller family thinks it is the trait that makes him never give up and do things “Nathan’s way”. He loves sports, hanging out with his friends, playing video games, and telling you his opinion! Nathan never lets DMD define him. He is currently participating in an exon skip 53 trial at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. While others might struggle with the diagnosis, and treatments, Nathan never complains when he has to have a muscle biopsy, give blood, get poked for an IV, or when he has to miss school and leave his friends. He continues to smile, and like all of us, hopes that he is making a difference; not only for his future, but for other kids who face DMD, or similar diseases.
Nathan is the son to Andrea and Ryan Miller and younger brother to Nicholas (Nick).