Do what you can while you can

I have been doing digital art since about 2006 and I've had a real good time making pieces of art and selling some along the way. I always remember with DMD that you can take absolutely nothing for granted and you certainly need to deal with that. It was very tough losing the ability to play my playstation console, eventually giving it away. Thankfully for me the internet had really started to take off and eventually in 2006 I found the art program. It could all end at any time so I'm definitely enjoying the journey while it lasts. I've really enjoyed learning how to paint and that process will never end. Finally when it does come to an end I know something better will come.

Read about life with Duchenne's in my book DMD, LIFE ART & ME!


EBOOK available here; https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/69702

Available on Amazon USA here; http://www.amazon.com/DMD-Life-Art-Ian-Griffiths/dp/1907652337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288120811&sr=8-1

Available on Amazon UK here; http://www.amazon.co.uk/DMD-LIFE-ART-AND-ME/dp/1907652337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288105302&sr=8-1

My new Ebook Poetic Diversions available to buy here; https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/206857

All links available in my website here; http://duchennemen.net16.net/Buy-my-books/

My art can be viewed here; www.artwanted.com/thebigG2005


Foreword

I’m Ian Griffiths from South Wales. This book is a story of my life so far up to the age of twenty five years. I live with and suffer from the ill effects of DMD which stands for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is a severe muscle wasting disease and a life limiting terminal illness. It won’t kill you in six months in the traditional sense of ‘terminal’, but it’s far crueller than that, it steals every muscle in your body first and then kills you, anywhere up to the age of thirty. There have been cases of men living past that into their forties and fifties but only with drastic interventions such as ventilators and tracheotomies, more on this can be found by reading on.
I hope to cover a few things in this book, from a history of my childhood years to a more detailed history from sixteen years onwards and finally onto my current problems and triumphs. At times things I write may make you smile or may make you pause and think about the seriousness of life with this devastating disease. I really hope there will be a cure but currently for us supposedly ‘older’ guys with DMD (over twenty one), there seems very little hope. If I don’t see a cure in my lifetime, I hope my campaigning helps in some way bring it about for future generations, so another child won’t have to see their body wither and die before their time 

Unhealthy Tendencies

Available in EBOOK and PAPERBACK versions

I used to drink gallons of fizzy drinks and eat all kinds of junk. I suppose I got into the destructive thinking of "what's the point in taking care of myself when I could die soon anyway". By living like that it was actually making me sicker, this would be true for everyone in that destructive pattern. So I realized that I needed to eat better since I had a reawakening so to speak.

Out goes the fizzy drinks and in goes the water, I can not eat junk now so I'm naturally protected from that. I eat meats, some fish, vegetables and fruit thanks to the pureed food my mum makes. I take vitamins and minerals too. It's definitely calmed my heart being off the caffeine and my skin and weight are all improved. If you eat well it also helps your mental state and I'm happier now. You may have a life threatening illness but there's no need to speed up the destruction in your body!

Extract;
...I discovered some food I could eat on the second day I was admitted. I was discussing with a nurse about my eating difficulties and they suggested that I try the puree menu the hospital had. One funny memory I have was upon seeing a pureed
corn beef hash. I enquired “this is a normal piece of meat, how am I supposed to eat it?” After my first mouthful I had realised how foolish I was as the meat thinned out and turned out to be liquidised...

Read more about food in my book DMD LIFE ART & ME!

EBOOK available here; https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/69702

Available on Amazon USA here; http://www.amazon.com/DMD-Life-Art-Ian-Griffiths/dp/1907652337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288120811&sr=8-1

Available on Amazon UK here; http://www.amazon.co.uk/DMD-LIFE-ART-AND-ME/dp/1907652337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288105302&sr=8-1

My new Ebook Poetic Diversions available to buy here; https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/206857

All links available in my website here; http://duchennemen.net16.net/Buy-my-books/


Foreword

I’m Ian Griffiths from South Wales. This book is a story of my life so far up to the age of twenty five years. I live with and suffer from the ill effects of DMD which stands for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is a severe muscle wasting disease and a life limiting terminal illness. It won’t kill you in six months in the traditional sense of ‘terminal’, but it’s far crueller than that, it steals every muscle in your body first and then kills you, anywhere up to the age of thirty. There have been cases of men living past that into their forties and fifties but only with drastic interventions such as ventilators and tracheotomies, more on this can be found by reading on.
I hope to cover a few things in this book, from a history of my childhood years to a more detailed history from sixteen years onwards and finally onto my current problems and triumphs. At times things I write may make you smile or may make you pause and think about the seriousness of life with this devastating disease. I really hope there will be a cure but currently for us supposedly ‘older’ guys with DMD (over twenty one), there seems very little hope. If I don’t see a cure in my lifetime, I hope my campaigning helps in some way bring it about for future generations, so another child won’t have to see their body wither and die before their time.

Making the best out of a bad situation

Available in EBOOK and PAPERBACK versions

I always try to look for the positive in every situation. What comes to mind is a trip to a hospital appointment to find out how bad my breathing was etc and afterwards I went to a marina and got some artwork ideas. It was a perfect distraction to the humdrum of DMD. Whenever I get ill one thing I rarely seem to lose is my sense of humour. After all having a laugh can help you feel better!

Extract;
....I’ve always liked sunsets and sunrises and had a really pleasurable time making this [artwork]. It just goes to show how positive reinforcement can lead to even greater things....

The first piece of art I uploaded to an art website received positive feedback even though the DMD I have limits the types of art I can produce. Never let limits hold you down, there's always an alternative.

Find out more in my book DMD LIFE ART & ME!
 
EBOOK available here; https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/69702

Available on Amazon USA here; http://www.amazon.com/DMD-Life-Art-Ian-Griffiths/dp/1907652337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288120811&sr=8-1

Available on Amazon UK here; http://www.amazon.co.uk/DMD-LIFE-ART-AND-ME/dp/1907652337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288105302&sr=8-1

Foreword

I’m Ian Griffiths from South Wales. This book is a story of my life so far up to the age of twenty five years. I live with and suffer from the ill effects of DMD which stands for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is a severe muscle wasting disease and a life limiting terminal illness. It won’t kill you in six months in the traditional sense of ‘terminal’, but it’s far crueller than that, it steals every muscle in your body first and then kills you, anywhere up to the age of thirty. There have been cases of men living past that into their forties and fifties but only with drastic interventions such as ventilators and tracheotomies, more on this can be found by reading on.
I hope to cover a few things in this book, from a history of my childhood years to a more detailed history from sixteen years onwards and finally onto my current problems and triumphs. At times things I write may make you smile or may make you pause and think about the seriousness of life with this devastating disease. I really hope there will be a cure but currently for us supposedly ‘older’ guys with DMD (over twenty one), there seems very little hope. If I don’t see a cure in my lifetime, I hope my campaigning helps in some way bring it about for future generations, so another child won’t have to see their body wither and die before their time.