Benjamin

​At just 3 years old, Ben was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a progressive condition that weakens his muscles over time. For years, his family traveled 8 hours to @Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for expert care—until they found a team closer to home at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.​

Now 14, Ben’s mobility has declined, but his resilience remains strong. With the support of his care team, he recently became one of the first patients to receive a commercial dose of Elevidys, a new gene therapy treatment aimed at slowing the progression of DMD.​

His family is grateful that Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU has been there for every step of their journey—from helping Ben start power wheelchair soccer to assisting in getting his best friend and service dog, Divina.​

This June, Ben will travel to Washington, D.C., for #FAD2025 with #TeamCHA to share his story and advocate for the importance of specialized care.​