A dad was "heartbroken, devastated and confused" after doctors confirmed his worst fears about his son.
Last year, Matthew McCormack's son Arthur was diagnosed with a life-limiting condition - and it was his parents realising how the seven-year-old was different from other children that led to the discovery.
Mr McCormark and his wife Samantha had noticed these differences about Arthur, but it wasn't until the dad was researching another condition on the internet that they came across Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
And then, in March 2020, Arthur was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and wasting, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The condition is described as one of the most common and severe forms of muscular dystrophy by the NHS, which states that people with the condition will usually only live into their 20s or 30s
The 34-year-old dad from Widnes, a town south of Liverpool in Cheshire, said: "We always knew he was a bit slower moving than the other kids but we just put it down to him being young.
"In 2019 he had a sports day at school and we noticed he was considerably slower than his classmates.
"He was also struggling with the stairs at home and the way he got up off the ground was different."
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Mr McCormark said when he came across the symptoms of DMD it was a light bulb moment.
He said: "I was looking for something else. My dad was having problems with his legs but when I was looking I come across Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
"Just looking at all the symptoms it was a light bulb moment," adding: "As soon as I put two and two together I got him to the doctors straight away."
In March 2020, doctors diagnosed Arthur with Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and wasting.
DMD almost always affects boys and is typically diagnosed in childhood between the age of three and six, being one of the most common and severe form of muscular dystrophy.
Mr McCormark said: "There's no cure, it's a life limiting condition. His life expectancy is between 15 and 30. I've known a few kids that have passed away with it this year that were only 16 years of age."
The parents also have a four-year-old daughter, Audrey. He said they won't find out until she is older if she has the genetic mutation that causes DMD, and could pass it on if she has children of her own in future.
Explaining their heartbreak at hearing Arthur's diagnosis, Matthew said: "Your world just falls apart. We were heartbroken, devastated, confused.
"It just destroys you. You start thinking about all the things you had planned for when he grows up, all the things you're not going to get to do with him and the things he's going to miss out on."
Friends of the family have set up a fundraiser to help buy Arthur an all-terrain wheelchair which he will need in the next few years. If you would like to donate towards the fundraising event set up for Arthur, click here.
The dad said: "Arthur knows as much as any seven year old needs to know. He knows he's got poorly muscles. We won't lie to him but he does ask questions."
Adding: "But he's a very happy boy, he's my little hero. He's the strongest person I know - he just gets on with it.
"You feel bad sometimes because he's the one with the condition and you feel bad for getting upset.
"He just doesn't let anything get in his way. If he can't do something he will try and find a way around to be able to do it."
