Andrew Frerich and son Calum both have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), which is a group of inherited conditions that damage the peripheral nerves
A father has told of his heartbreak after his son inherited the same rare degenerative neuromuscular disease as him and is now struggling with his mobility – aged just five.
Andrew Frerich and son Calum both live with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), which causes muscle weakness in the limbs.
But Mr Frerich – who inherited the condition from his late father – says he does not want his son to be held back in life.
Thankfully, Calum’s twin sister Amber and brother Dylan, eight, are not inflicted with CMT despite a 50/50 chance of them having it.
Mr Frerich, who suffered crippling pain growing up, said: ‘We don’t put any limits on Calum. Anything he wants to do he can do.
‘He could have it much worse than me, I know five-year-old boys who have it and are in wheelchairs, so we want to do as much as possible with him now.
‘He knows his legs are not good and he has legs like Daddy’s, but he doesn’t realise he has limitations, and sometimes hurts himself doing things he can’t manage.
‘He might fall over when he tries to run if he loses his balance, but he just carries on. It doesn’t hold him back.’