The primary disability I have is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, specifically a nonsense (or stop codon) mutation which my mother was a carrier of. The disability has rendered me a quadriplegic, meaning I have limited to no movement in all limbs due to muscle deterioration caused by an inability to produce dystrophin. Due to the negative impact on my body, my organs are barely performing as they should be such that I require a bipap breathing machine at night (essentially it breathes for me) and I cannot do most things for myself. However, what upsets me the most is the fact that I am the "mother" to twin girls, both girls are 7 years old and they are carries of the disability, which gives my future grandsons a 50% chance of having the same disability that I have been afflicted by my entire life. I guess I feel guilty for this future problem and want some guidance and advice from others. The biological mother of my children took my virginity without my consent when I was 17 and regardless of the hurt and sadness I feel, I still raise and care for my daughters and would do anything to protect them. I fought for full legal custody of my daughters and I know that was the right decision but I can't help feeling sadness for them if they were to grow up, get married and have sons.
