When Georgi Alldread’s son Royce started having nosebleeds at just three-months-old, she never imagined her life would change so dramatically.
The GMP call handler was excited for her baby’s future when he began showing the strange and unsettling symptom.
Georgi, who lives in Bolton, reached out to Bolton Royal Hospital before being referred to the paediatrics unit.
Regular blood tests revealed Royce’s liver enzymes were too high, indicating something was harming his liver.
Medics also learned the tot’s muscles were leaking creatine kinase (CK) protein, meaning something “wasn’t right” with his muscles.
Georgi and son Royce
(Image: Georgi Alldread)
Georgi, 26, says Royce was referred to Manchester Children’s Hospital where a gene test was carried out.
Further tests confirmed what no parent wants to hear. The tiny tot was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy (MD), a genetic condition which gradually weakens the muscles.
Georgi says the days and weeks that followed felt like a blur. “I had no clue what MD was,” she told the Manchester Evening News. “It was literally terrifying.
“All I knew of MD was that your muscles break down. I thought, how can my little boy have this disease when he’s absolutely fine?
“I’m looking at him and he’s literally fine. I’d never had anything like that before in my family. I’d never been to Manchester Children’s Hospital or anywhere like that.
Royce
(Image: Georgi Alldread)
“It was a big, petrifying experience – it was just awful.”
Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is a group of genetic conditions that cause muscles to weaken and break down over time.
It happens because the body can’t make enough of certain proteins needed for healthy muscles.
Different types of MD affect people in different ways. Some start in childhood while others develop later in life.
Over time, it can make it harder to walk, move or even do simple everyday tasks. While treatments can help manage symptoms, there is currently no cure.
Royce, now aged one, attends physiotherapy appointments and has regular heart scans to make sure his health is okay.
Following his diagnosis in November 2024, Georgi began to research the condition – learning her son’s symptoms wouldn’t fully manifest until he reached his teenage years.
The whole family have been left devastated
(Image: Georgi Alldread)
And when the mum read about life expectancy for children with MD, she says her heart sank.
“It won’t affect him until he’s in his teens,” she added. “That’s when his muscles will start breaking down.
“He will start struggling to walk and go upstairs or anything. I’m thinking of my future and I’m thinking of his future and I’m waiting for that to happen. What’s coming?
“When you read about it, all the life expectancy isn’t very high. It says less than half live to their 40s, and it’s like, what? That’s when my child is meant to be having children and having his own life.”
Georgi, who lives in the Heaton area, admits the emotional toll has been tough to deal with – even experiencing heart-breaking moments of self-blame.
“I think now I just want to do my best to see and improve the help that is available to him,” she told the MEN.
His symptoms won’t start showing until he’s a teen
(Image: Georgi Alldread)
“When he was diagnosed, I was given numbers of charities that help them and are doing things to try and find cures, because there is no cure at the moment.
“Royce has got at least 10 years until it starts affecting him. If we can try and be on the positive side of it and see what we can do to get something going, so that when Royce needs it, we can get these charities enough funding to get enough treatments they can.
“If you don’t see the positive side of it, it will literally just crumble you. The last few months, I’ve dwelled on it. I blame myself because it’s a genetic condition – it’s my fault, I’m the one who’s done it.
“If I had known, would it have changed anything? It made me worse in a way. I was dreading getting up. I was thinking about it all the time.”
Georgi is now using her voice to raise awareness and advocate for better resources, since setting up a Gofundme appeal to help raise funds for various Muscular Dystrophy charities.
It reads: “Hi my name is Georgi and recently me and my family received the news that my little boy Royce has muscular dystrophy.
Royce was diagnosed in November
(Image: Georgi Alldread)
“This is inherited genetic disease which causes the muscles to waste away over time and progressively gets worst increasing the level of disability.
“The disease affects the heart and muscles used for breathing. This has been an extremely difficult time for me and my family and coming to terms with this has been hard.
“I never expected for this to happen to my little boy and it makes me petrified for the future. Me and my family have decided to take part in the Manchester half marathon in October which will definitely be a challenge in aid of us raising money for two muscular dystrophy charities, Muscular dystrophy UK and Muscular dystrophy Association.
“These charities help raise money towards better treatment for Muscular dystrophy and more research into the conditions. Any donation will be massively appreciated!”
To donate, follow the link by clicking here.