Wheels for Wyatt

Wyatt Keeley

Wyatt Keeley is a bright, engaging 17-year-old who was diagnosed at the age of three with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Although he appeared typical as an infant, he hit milestones later than most children and continued to lag physically behind others of his same age.

Young Dylan and Wyatt

Throughout childhood Wyatt slowly but progressively began to lose the ability to use his body’s muscles. By the age of 12 he no longer was ambulatory and became confined to a wheelchair. While this limited his independence, Wyatt continued to pursue his many interests and remained very social.

Wyatt’s 12th birthday

Today Wyatt is like any typical teenager. He loves video games, comic books, going out to eat, and catching all the latest movies. He’s also a fan of zombies and superheroes. He loves to experience and explore all that life has to offer and is always game for road trips to anywhere from New York City to a nearby Comic Con.

With family in NYC

Meeting The Walking Dead’s Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus with the family at New York Comic Con

Wyatt loves participating and being involved in just about everything and especially loves spending time with family and friends.

Despite Wyatt’s limitations, he never has asked “Why me?”

His indomitable spirit is infectious.Apple picking in CT

With Dad at the Civil Air Patrol parade

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the deadliest of all of the neuromuscular diseases affecting about 1 in 3,500 children, primarily boys. It is a terminal, muscle-wasting illness which is characterized by the absence of a critical cell protein called dystrophin; without it, muscles cannot stay intact.

Facts

Most young children move slower, are clumsy, and experience fatigue. They often begin to take steroids early on in order to preserve as much muscle as is possible.

Most become non-ambulatory and are confined to wheelchairs by age 12.

Trunk and arm weakness follow until eventually the only mobility is in the hands.

Illnesses such as the flu and pneumonia can be deadly, as the lungs also are muscles. Daily breathing treatments and a nighttime bipap aid in respiratory function.

Many experience heart problems, as the heart also is a muscle.

Tracheotomies and feeding tubes often become necessary in late teens and early twenties.

Most do not live beyond the teen years.

There currently is no cure.

Later Duchenne