A Cure for George

Adam, Cerys, Freddie and George Booth live in Weston, Stafford. George aged 5 was diagnosed with Becker muscular dystrophy in January 2017.  They set up A Cure for George to raise awareness and fund research into Becker muscular dystrophy.

George like many other children his age, enjoys riding his bike, swimming, football, playing games on his computer, reading and watching TV.

When George was just two years old he started getting muscle spasms in his calves and started to walk on his tip toes. As time went on the spasms become more frequent and painful, this spread to his thighs. At times the spasms could last up to an hour, when they were bad he couldn’t put his heels down, stand or walk properly. George would be crying in pain. At this point Adam and Cerys took George to the GP. The GP agreed the spasms were not typical, that his calves were very large and his muscles and tendons were very tight. Their GP referred George to an orthopaedic team. They quickly ruled out anything orthopaedic and referred George to the muscle team at Oswestry Hospital.

At the initial consultant appointment George was examined and his muscle strength was tested. The consultant took a full history of events and George had some blood tests. The consultant made a follow up appointment for four months’ time and gave George some physio stretches to do every day to help stretch his tight muscles. 

Adam and Cerys received a call six weeks later to bring the appointment forward and on the 6 January 2017 their worst fears were confirmed, when the consultant diagnosed George with Becker muscular dystrophy. The diagnosis was based on George’s DNA test.

Cerys said:  “This news has completely turned our lives upside down and devastated us. “

Since the diagnoses George has regular Calpol for his spasms and does his physio stretches twice a day with mum and dad. He has a warm bath each night followed by massage and he has also been having weekly traditional Chinese acupuncture sessions, all of which give George some therapeutic relief.

Net proceeds of fundraising will be split 80% into research for Becker muscular dystrophy and 20% for George's welfare needs