Sep 7, 2026 · 41 min · 9 segments
In this episode of Reimagine Childhood from the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer talks with grandmother Kate Mobell, whose grandson Shepherd was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular…
Diana CastroGuestMonica HealerHost
Kate MoebelGuestTalk just a little bit about what treatment is available and why it's beneficial to start early.
So the problem with fusion muscular dystrophy is the lack of a protein called dystrophin.
So imagine, I always say, imagine like, you know, when you buy a piece of meat or, you know, anything that has fibers.
Inside those fibers, there is this protein called dystrophin that works like a shock absorber.
So it's something that as the muscle fiber contracts, this dystrophin helps regulating because if we don't have that one, what happens? The contraction keeps going and the fiber ruptures.
Like if you have your car has four different shock absorbers, two in the front and two in the back, right? You don't have those four shock absorbers.
That is the Shen muscular dystrophy that they don't have any of those four shock absorbers.
So they can keep going, but there's going to be damage and damage and damage and it's progressive.
So the therapies that we have been, I mean, all of us have been working for many years, have been directed many times to try to improve the levels of that protein that
Like to make, well, we're not going to give you four new full absorbers, shock absorbers.
So if you give you a smaller version, you're going to be able to drive your car longer.
So mainly that, mainly increasing the protein levels, which we have now gene transfer therapy.
Talk just a little bit about what treatment is available and why it's beneficial to start early.
So the problem with fusion muscular dystrophy is the lack of a protein called dystrophin.
So imagine, I always say, imagine like, you know, when you buy a piece of meat or, you know, anything that has fibers.
Inside those fibers, there is this protein called dystrophin that works like a shock absorber.
So it's something that as the muscle fiber contracts, this dystrophin helps regulating because if we don't have that one, what happens? The contraction keeps going and the fiber ruptures.
Like if you have your car has four different shock absorbers, two in the front and two in the back, right? You don't have those four shock absorbers.
That is the Shen muscular dystrophy that they don't have any of those four shock absorbers.
So they can keep going, but there's going to be damage and damage and damage and it's progressive.
So the therapies that we have been, I mean, all of us have been working for many years, have been directed many times to try to improve the levels of that protein that
Like to make, well, we're not going to give you four new full absorbers, shock absorbers.
So if you give you a smaller version, you're going to be able to drive your car longer.
So mainly that, mainly increasing the protein levels, which we have now gene transfer therapy.
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