Few in Sri Lanka are aware that there are around 800 to 1000 children here suffering from what is known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Worldwide, one in every 3000 male children born is affected by this most horrible and heart-rending disease.
Ms. Elizabeth Vroom from Holland, an Orthodontist by profession is in
Sri Lanka to help set up a DMD Parent Project. 
She has a son aged seven who knew from the age of four that he was due to die very young from this most distressing disease and has dedicated herself to helping those afflicted.
This disease is usually transferred by the mother to male children only. It is said that the last Czar of Russia Nicholas's family had it too.
Women, Ms Vroom, explained, have two chromosomes titled XX, therefore female children can be carriers but don't get the disease. Male children get it because males have one chromosone called XY. Ms Vroom explained this is a rapidly progressive disease so to keep a child alive one has to have a veritable race against time using measures to keep the children as comfortable as possible.
Today many mothers, whose families are suspected of having the disease genes, undergo pre-natal tests of the amniotic fluid and if this is positive the mother opts to abort rather than give birth to a child fated only to die shortly after it is born.
There has been research done headed by one Dr. Eric Hoffman who resides
in the United States. The first thing Duchenne Muscular Parent Project
Worldwide is trying to do is to help with genetic repair. This means that
harmful effects of the virus causing the disease is reduced by trying to
give the body protein dystrophin. It helps to strengthen the weak muscles
of the victim. In Europe there are many parent projects seeking to help
with finding a cure. Ms Vroom said she was here to set up a parent project
in Sri Lanka with Hafiz Issadeen as the President.
Mr Issadeen too has a sixteen -year -old son suffering from muscular dystrophy.
Today one can take daughters with a history of the disease to be tested in Europe to see whether they are carriers before they get married.
A simple blood test that can be done even in Sri Lanka called deoxyri bonucleic test can detect the disease.
"Even if the mother is not a carrier like I am, yet I have a son with the disease because there have been undetected cell deviations," Ms. Vroom said.
Today however things are improving. Special ventilation through the nose and mouth is given to child sufferers so that there is extra pressure to blow up the lungs. Otherwise because of muscle weakness there is no muscular strength for the lungs to function and help the child to breathe.
Children must have good care and made to feel as comfortable as possible though confined to a wheelchair from a very early age. Their spirits must be kept up.
"My child knows he will die but is happy that we, his parents, are involved in projects to help beat the disease. He still has hope" Ms Vroom says.
The most pathetic thing is that from a very young age the child with DMD is aware that it has an early tryst with death and is confined to a wheelchair.
From babyhood the child finds it difficult to walk and also to get up due to weakness of the hip and thigh muscles.
Then the calf muscles show weakness so that the child lifts itself like an old man with arthritis, keeping the hands on the knee like an old man.
The child does this when it wishes to stand up. This, said Elizabeth, is one of the early symptoms of this dreadful disease.
Ms Vroom said, myoblast cells from donors with healthy muscles are taken and injected into the sick muscles of the child. This disease is really a drastic weakening of muscles of the body.
Also steroids such as prednisolone are prescribed and physiotherapy followed to slow down the progress of the disease.
'My Way', the musical tribute to Vijaya Corea, organized by the Lions Club of Wellawatte West on February 28 will be backed by the Sunday Times, The Midweek Mirror and the Lankadeepa as official newspapers.
Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Lion Sri Sangabo Corea explained that 'My Way' was being organized on the lines of Woodstock, the highly successful open air concert held in the United Kingdom. In view of the large crowd expected, no chairs would be provided but a vast expanse of ground where the audience can sit on mats, cushions, stools or anything at all that will serve as a comfortable seat. Entry to the Shalika Sports Grounds will be on a single priced ticket of Rs. 100/= covering a 6-hour non-stop show featuring the cream of Sri Lanka's entertainers on radio and stage and many who are performing in 5 star hotels. Secretary of the Organizing Committee, Lion Pandu Liyanage said that the response from prospective sponsors has been most encouraging. "As in Woodstock, we are catering to a massive audience, undoubtedly the biggest seen at any such event. There will be a variety of food and drink stalls catering to different palates and the whole atmosphere will have a carnival effect. 'My Way' will feature song and dance, comedy, anecdotes and a fashion parade," he added.Treasurer of the Organizing Committee, Lion Gilbert Mendis said that the proceeds from 'My Way' would go to finance a service project that the Lions Club of Wellawatte West would conduct in the base Hospital, Chilaw, in response to a public appeal made by the D.M.O Chilaw. It is a worthy cause considering the difficulties the hospital authorities confronted with the recent outbreak of Cholera in Chilaw.
President of the Lions Club of Wellawatte West, Lion Gamini Gunasekera the Club which had much experience in organizing fund-raisers of this nature was confident that 'My Way' would be the best of them all.
The English Union of the Kokkuvil Hindu College has launched its own magazine called 'The Breeze'.
The students of this co-education school under the guidance of their principal P. Kamalanathan and Vice Principal and Head of the English Section T. Devarajah have managed to put out a large first volume supported by many advertisements from Jaffna and Kokkuvil merchants.
The magazine begins with the messages of the Principal, Vice Principal, Education Department Officials, past pupils and contains 26 pages of articles written by senior students of year 7 to year 12.
The writing was mostly high calibre and creative. Only one article bespoke of the terror of war that all these students would have experienced for a good part of their lives. Even that was written, by a twelve year old student with a humorous twist.
The article was based on their unexpected evacuation of Jaffna in 1995 and their journey to safety in Chavakachcheri.
Another detailed article written by a year 12 student glossed over a trip made by their family to the hill country. Details of the family's trip to Vavuniya which took two days and the subsequent happy tour of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Rakwana, Haputale and Badulla are recalled with glee.
The magazine is indeed a commendable effort considering the conditions in the North and it is hoped that the English Union of the school will continue publishing 'The Breeze' in the future.
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