Georgi Alldread faces a tough journey after her son Royce is diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, a condition that weakens muscles over time.
Bolton: When Georgi Alldread’s little boy Royce started having nosebleeds at just three months old, she had no idea how much her life would change. She was excited about his future, but those nosebleeds led to a whirlwind of doctor visits and tests.
After reaching out to Bolton Royal Hospital, they found out that Royce’s liver enzymes were off, which was a huge red flag. It turned out that his muscles were leaking a protein called creatine kinase, and that’s when things got serious.
Georgi, who’s just 26, took Royce to Manchester Children’s Hospital for further tests. The news was gut-wrenching: Royce was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, a genetic condition that weakens muscles over time. She felt lost and terrified, saying, “I had no clue what MD was.”
It was a tough pill to swallow. She thought, “How can my little boy have this when he seems fine?” Muscular dystrophy can start showing symptoms in childhood or later, and it can make everyday tasks really hard as time goes on.
Now, at one year old, Royce goes to physiotherapy and has regular heart scans to keep an eye on his health. Georgi started researching the condition and learned that the real challenges would come when Royce hits his teenage years.
She was heartbroken when she read about the life expectancy for kids with MD. “Less than half live to their 40s,” she said, feeling the weight of that reality. It’s tough to think about the future when you’re worried about your child’s health.
Georgi has been feeling the emotional strain, even blaming herself at times since it’s a genetic condition. But she’s determined to focus on the positive. She’s been reaching out to charities for support and has set up a Gofundme to raise funds for muscular dystrophy research.
In her appeal, she shares her family’s journey and the challenges they face. They’re even participating in the Manchester half marathon to raise money for muscular dystrophy charities. Georgi is hopeful that with enough support, they can help find better treatments for kids like Royce.
