10-year-old Fatma doesn’t let a lack of mobility slow her down. Whether it’s talking about Pokemon or reading Harry Potter, watching movies, or creating artwork, she’s always smiling and ready to try something new.

Fatma was admitted to the S.S. La Rabida inpatient unit earlier this year for treatment of a rare type of muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass due to abnormal genes interfering with the formation of healthy muscle tissue. This causes Fatma to experience weakness in her limbs, diaphragm, and heart. Here at La Rabida, she receives care for her tracheostomy tube and ventilator, which help with her breathing. She also undergoes physiotherapy several times a week to help support the muscles in her chest. Despite these changes, she continues to stay positive.

“She’s been such a good sport with all her new medical equipment,” says Erin Murphy, a Child Life specialist at La Rabida. “She already talks over her trach and isn’t afraid to tell you like it is.”

Fatma doesn’t let the challenge of communication or mobility interfere with her education either. “I like everything about school except homework,” shared Fatma. “Art and social studies are my favorite.” She uses a laptop to attend classes virtually every day.

“The weakness in her muscles extends out to her mouth and her ability to type, the laptop has been a great communication device,” explained La Rabida’s Dr. Parag Shah. “It keeps her entertained and allows her to do stuff because it doesn’t take a lot of movement to move the mouse around so she’s able to express herself.

Between the books, the movies, the laptop, the drawings, school – we’re able to continue that here at La Rabida which is really nice, I think that’s done wonders for her.”

Both Fatma and her mother are grateful for the support they’ve received from the entire team at La Rabida.

“People are nice and try to be helpful,” shared Sana, Fatma’s mother. “I’d like to thank everybody.”