“When you focus on your dreams and objectives, the disease disappears!”
At 22 years old, Samuel Lachaine recently completed his Bachelor’s degree in journalism at UQAM. He also got his first job in the field as a sports journalist for RDS. But that’s not all. Samuel has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
DMD is a degenerative muscle disease, for which no treatment exists. It causes a progressive loss of mobility and premature death. However, DMD hasn’t stopped Samuel! Despite the extreme competitiveness in the field of sports journalism, Samuel hasn’t been treated any differently than other students or colleagues. He paves his way.
When I spoke with Samuel, I wanted to know where he finds his inner strength. He told me, “When you focus on your dreams and objectives, the disease disappears. I’ve been dreaming of becoming a sports journalist since the age of 10. I remember meeting a career counsellor, who told me that it wasn’t a good idea, that it was challenging to make a career in that field. To this, I said: ‘Just watch me!’”
Life after the shock of receiving a DMD diagnosis
Samuel’s parents played a significant role in his success. A note: Samuel’s brother also has the disease. Samuel explains: “When my parents first got the diagnosis, their life stopped, but they managed to remain positive. They told us: “DMD might cause you some difficulties, but you need to carry on with your dreams and keep your drive alive. We will be there to support you.” This support and positive attitude proved to be a major factor in his life. Today, Samuel lives his dream; he has become a journalist. His success has had an impact on his brother, who is a business owner.
“DMD might cause you some difficulties, but you need to carry on with your dreams and keep your drive alive. We will be there to support you.”
Samuel is a true inspiration! He’s proving to each of us that we can make our dreams come true. DMD could have squashed his dreams, but it didn’t.
In the future, Samuel’s ambition is to host his own sports show. We’re all behind you, Samuel! When we look at you, we are genuinely inspired by your determination!
Thank you for sharing Samuel’s story!
We invite you as well to share your story here! #myduchennelaforcestory
For more inspiration from Samuel, you can follow his blog here. Enjoy!
