Muscular dystrophy month hits home for Jackson family

Like many, Erin Boyer didn't know exactly what muscular dystrophy was. That is, until it affected her family.

Two of her three sons, 6-year-old Frankie and 1-year-old Jaxson, received a diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy mere months apart over the summer.

"Terror. Shock. Sadness. Anger. All the emotions you could imagine ..." Boyer recently told Southeast Missourian reporter Lindsay Jones.

Those feelings are all understandable. But Erin, her husband Trey, Frankie, Jaxson and their other son Colton are trying to "live like it's not happening, even though it is," Boyer said. We commend the family's strength under such a difficult situation.

Duchenne is "a progressive disorder that attacks muscle tissue all over the body. If not treated properly, the disease can leave children confined to a wheelchair by age 12 and dead by the time they're about 20," according to the article.

Jaxson attends Eagle Ridge Christian School in Cape Girardeau. Frankie did, too, before switching to Orchard Elementary School in Jackson. Nearly 200 students at Eagle Ridge paid $5 each to wear green in support of the Boyers and to raise funds to help pay medical bills. The total raised was $1,600.

There was also a carwash planned at the school and a green-out volleyball game to add to the funds raised.

September is Muscular Dystrophy Awareness month, but helping others like the Boyers through a tough time doesn't have to end after 30 days.

"When there's a family in need, this is what the Bible tells us to do. We take care of each other," Eagle Ridge pre-K teacher Cathy Lewis said.

Anyone interested in contributing to Eagle Ridge's fundraising efforts should contact the school at (573) 339-1335.