Life with Becker MD | Exploring Life, Disability & Everything In Between!

Hi, I’m Brad and this is My Beckers Story

Welcome to my corner of the internet, where I share life with Becker MuscularDystrophy (BMD) - a rare, sometimes invisible disability. This isn’t the highlight reel. This is real life, told openly and honestly - no sugarcoating, no pretending. This is the place where I explore Life, Disability & Everything In Between!

I am also the author of Fighting Towards Victory, a book about my experiences growing up with Becker Muscular Dystrophy. I share the challenges I’ve faced along the way - from childhood bullying and employment struggles to devastating losses. But through it all, I keep showing up and fighting through every challenge that comes my way.

My mission is to show what living with a disability is actually like - not the watered-down or inspirational version, but the truth. If you appreciate honesty and authenticity, consider reading through my blog, picking up a copy of Fighting Towards Victory, and continuing to follow my journey on Instagram & YouTube!

Available in Canada, the USA, the UK, and more!

What Readers Are Saying

“Hi Brad. I was recently diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. I read your book and wanted to let you know that it made me feel a lot better about my diagnosis.”

“This book highlights the mental sharpness while facing the progression of muscle weakness from childhood to adulthood. What an honest and inspiring story through many challenges and finding positivity through it all.”

Celebrating 15 years of My Beckers Story!

It all started in 2010 with My Becker’s Story, my blog about life with Becker Muscular Dystrophy. A year later, I got involved in the Walk for Muscular Dystrophy, and in 2014, I founded Laps4MD and started Becker Awareness Week to help bring the community together and raise awareness. In 2023, I took the next step and wrote and self-published my book Fighting Towards Victory. I hope you grab a copy!

Connect with My Beckers Story!

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

@mybeckersstory

Fighting Towards Victory - Incredible read, highly recommend!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fighting Towards Victory is a powerful and uplifting look into life with Becker Muscular Dystrophy - not just the diagnosis, but the day-to-day strength, resilience, and humanity that come with it. After my own son was diagnosed with BMD I began meeting people in the community through online platforms.

Brad was-one of the first to quickly respond to my many questions. Without fail Brad kindlyshared his experiences and gave me so much hope and comfort. I was so happy he published his first book and I read it quickly! In his book he shares his journey from early childhood and diagnosis, through school challenges into adulthood, love, marriage, incredible loss and beyond, with a level of honesty and warmth that makes the story incredibly relatable and real.

What I appreciated most was the insight into the emotional and practical challenges of living with Becker muscular dystrophy - but also the humor, love, and positive perspective that shine through. It's not just about a condition; it's about a life well-lived and so much growth when faced each day with challenges many of us take for granted. 

The updated version of the book includes even more stories and reflections, adding depth and making an already great read even more impactful! This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understanding of day to day life, overcoming challenges brought on by neuromuscular disease and anxiety or simply just to be inspired by someone who lives with grace, courage, and purpose and is fighting towards victory!

Highly recommend!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review by: Christina

Finding Joy and Belonging: Life with Becker Muscular Dystrophy (Encouragement for Parents & those living with BMD)

"Growing up with Becker Muscular Dystrophy, being able to ride a bike meant everything to me. It let me join the neighborhood kids, feel included, and enjoy the same simple freedom they did."

I understand that many parents of children diagnosed young often wonder what life wiIl look like for their child. How will they play? Will they make friends? Will physical limitations hold them back?

Your first concern might be sports, but not being able to run doesn't mean your child can't be part of sports. There are many ways to get involved - coaching, supporting the team, or finding roles that let them stay connected and contribute. In fact, some people living with Becker MD participate in motorsports as drivers, while others enjoy wheelchair-based sports - showing there are many ways to stay active and involved.

For me, not being able to keep up or participate in many physical activities helped me discover other joys: motorsports, drawing, writing stories and song lyrics, and collecting sports cards and Hot Wheels - all of which still bring me joy today. So encourage exploration. Let your child try new things- like me, they'll naturally discover what suits their physical abilities.

Yes everyone's journey with Becker MD is different - and some may find riding a bike too difficult - I share this post to remind kids and parents that there are still many ways to have fun and enjoy life. Now, it's always important to balance fun with rest - playing shouldn't mean pushing to exhaustion. Giving your muscles time to rest and staying within your limits goes a long way when living with Becker MD.

I also want you to know that many people living with physical disabilities are recognized for their creativity and great sense of humor. Despite the challenges, we quickly learn that it's still possible to truly enjoy life.

Hopefully, this post brings you comfort - reminding you that there's always something your child, or anyone living with BMD or any disability, can discover that brings them happiness and joy.

What activities or types of work have you found bring you the most joy while living with BMD or a disability?

This is your chance to help others - to encourage someone recently diagnosed, or to support a parent of a child living with Becker MD. Please share your experiences in the comments!

Don't miss this chance to help someone who's struggling or in need of guidance.

Surviving the Brooklin Spring Fair - Thanks to My Trusty Cane

Last night, I did something I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pull off - I survived a night out at the Brooklin Fair. It wasn’t without its challenges, but I made it through, and I have my cane to thank for that.

To be honest, I was disappointed - but not entirely surprised - by the lack of accessibility at the event. I had assumed the paved parking lot would be reserved for accessible parking. That would have made sense, right? Instead, it was being used by one of the fair’s sponsors to showcase their vehicles. The designated accessible parking was tucked far away from the festivities, a considerable distance to cover if you have mobility challenges. Meanwhile, event staff and fair reps had spots much closer. Unfortunately, it felt like accessibility was once again an afterthought.

It’s frustrating, but it’s something you start to expect when living with a disability. Still, I didn’t let it ruin my night. I had a good time, all things considered - and that’s largely because I made the choice to bring my cane instead of my mobility scooter.

Why the cane? Simple: my scooter doesn’t handle grassy terrain well. The ruts from tractors and natural dips in the ground can cause it to get stuck - or worse, tip over. I felt well enough, maybe thanks to a pre-fair nap, so I opted for the cane, knowing I’d have to constantly scan the ground to avoid a fall. Fortunately, I made it through without incident. The fencing around the grounds helped too - I could use it for support when needed.

We explored the animal exhibits, grabbed some food, and decided to find a good spot for the tractor pull. Here’s where I made another miscalculation. We picked the wrong side of the track. Across from us, the bleachers were filling up - but those folks had the benefit of partial shade. Meanwhile, we were directly under the blazing sun. It didn’t take long before I started overheating and feeling faint. I let my wife know and we made a beeline back to our car for some much-needed air conditioning.

Thankfully, while we were cooling off, we got a message from the friends we were meeting. They’d already found seats - on the shaded side. What a relief! We met up with them, and I immediately felt better. As the sun went down, the temperature dropped, and the rest of the evening was actually enjoyable.

Believe it or not, I had never seen a tractor pull before. It was loud - sorry to those who prefer EVs over roaring V8s - but kind of thrilling. Who knows - maybe one day we’ll see electric tractors in the competition. It’d definitely sound a lot different!

After about an hour and a half, it was time to make the long walk back to the car. My legs were tired, but I stretched, took it slow, and made it. The cooler air helped a lot. I was just so grateful to have brought the cane I keep stashed in our vehicle for days just like this.

In the end, despite the glaring issue with accessible parking, it was a good night. A fun event, new experiences, and a reminder of how small improvements in accessibility could make a big difference. If you’re attending next year and using a mobility scooter, make sure it’s built for off-road conditions. And if anyone from the fair is reading this: it wouldn’t take much to do better. Let’s hope accessibility moves up the priority list.

As for me, recovery mode is on today. Nights like yesterday come with a cost - my leg muscles are making it clear that rest isn’t just helpful, it’s necessary. Living with a disability means listening to your body, honoring its limits, and knowing that pushing through isn’t always the answer.