Jake Talks to 1st Year Medical Students at UMass Medical

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Jake was asked to be a guest speaker talking to first-year medical students at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) on September 12, 2018. He spoke to them about what he thinks makes a doctor world-famous. Jake had them laughing which the students told him was the highlight of their day. One of the student commented on social media, “My classmates and I loved meeting you! Thanks again for sharing your story with us.” Jake shared the good and the bad about being a patient with Duchenne MD, including how he does in school and living his life on a daily basis. We had a great time and were honored to speak to these young people. Good Luck, future doctors!

Hudson Mother & Son Complete Title 9 Triathlon in Hopkinton

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HOPKINTON — Just before 8 a.m. Sunday, Sheryl Marrazzo crouches down and places both her hands squarely on the sides of her son’s face and leans in close until both their foreheads touch. just a few short minutes, Marrazzo will be competing in the annual Title 9 women’s sprint triathlon, which she’s done for the last five years. But this time will be different – her son Jake, who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at age 7, will be right behind her the whole time.

After 25 weeks of intense training, Marrazzo pulled 15-year-old Jake for the duration of the race’s swimming, biking and running courses using both an inflatable raft and a special $5,000 running chair.

Continue reading the article “Mother, son complete Title 9 triathlon through Hopkinton” at Wicked Local and written by Cesareo Contreras and please click here to watch our photo and video montage from the Title 9 Triathlon race.

Hudson resident Sheryl Marrazzo and her 15-year-old son, Jake, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, completed the Title 9 Sprint triathlon through Hopkinton on Sept. 9th

I Just Want to Show Other Patients that Anything is Possible

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Jake WheelchairSeptember 7th is World Duchenne Awareness Day, which aims to raise awareness for people living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In this blog, Jake Marrazzo, a DMD patient and advocate, shares his experience, providing a powerful story of inspiration to anyone who has been touched by this disease and was originally published by America’s Biopharmaceutical Companies on September 7, 2018.

My story starts on a basketball court in early elementary school where, despite my best attempts, I couldn’t seem to keep up with the other kids. I also noticed they had an easier time going up the stairs, and I really wanted to know why. After a few years of asking questions, at age 8, I was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy or DMD for short.

Essentially, this genetic disease means that my body can’t make a protein called dystrophin, which my muscles need to keep moving. Without it, my muscle cells have started to weaken and die off. At age 12, I started using a wheelchair because walking became too difficult.

I’m 15 now, but in the seven years that have passed since my diagnosis, I have refused to let this disease slow me down. Getting diagnosed with DMD was extremely hard (although I think it was harder for my parents than it was for me), and I was forced to come to terms with certain limitations at a far earlier age than most people.
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Hudson Woman Will Compete in a Triathlon with Her Son Who Has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

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PRESS RELEASE

September 9, 2018 – Hudson, MA – Hudson resident Sheryl Marrazzo will be competing in the Title 9 Sprint Triathlon in Hopkinton, MA on September 9, 2018 with her 15-year-old son Jake, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and has been confined to a wheelchair since age 12. Sheryl will compete in the triathlon by pulling Jake in a raft for a 1/4 mile swim, then pulling him in a Team Hoyt custom-design race chair for a 10 mile bike ride and finally pushing him for 3.1 miles in the race chair.

The inspiration for this challenge is when Jake has repeatedly told Sheryl, “I am frustrated on the sideline waiting for you to finish your Triathlons. Can you take me with you this year?” Sheryl agreed and began a 25-week training regimen with Unified Health & Performance owner Brendan Alward. So for the last 168 days or so, each day has been filled with swimming, running, biking and strength training for this 52-year-old mother of three.
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First Day Using Our New Team Hoyt Running Chair

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Yesterday was our first official 5k with our new Team Hoyt Running Chair! It was hot and crowded, but we managed a personal best and beat our last run by 2 minutes!! Jake kept asking me when I was going to go faster!! Did the best I could kid…speed in progress!!! People kept saying I don’t know how you do it (pushing a 35 pound chair and a 110 pound kid) but I know how…I do it 4 Jake & Tyler’s Sake!!

 

 

Hudson Mother and Son Raising Money for Specialized Running Chair

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This article was written by Jonathan Phelps in the Metrowest Daily News and published on Apr 29, 2018 at 7:09 PM.

HUDSON — During a run along the rail trail earlier this spring, Jake Marrazzo spurred his mother on as she started training for an upcoming triathlon.

“Faster,” he said as she pushed him in a mobility stroller. “I want to feel the wind in my hair.”

As a casual jogger, Sheryl Marrazzo had a quick answer for her 15-year-old son.

“I’m going as fast as I can,” she said.

Jake, a freshman at Hudson High School, has been unable to walk since April 2015 after being diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in January 2011 — a few days before his 8th birthday. The disease is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Please visit the Metrowest Daily News to read the rest of this article.

Hudson Teacher Helps Student Making Tough Transition

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This article was written by Paul Burton and published on WBZ-TV on November 6, 2015 at 6:14 pm.

BOSTON (CBS) – Jake Marrazzo, 12, is learning a lot of hard lessons about life but his approach to it is inspiring those around him, especially his substitute teacher Melissa Ansley. “I can’t walk anymore. I originally could when I was little,” Jake said. Jake suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. “Every morning he would say ‘good morning’ with this big smile and I thought if someone like that can be happy every day what do we have to complain about,” Ansley said. Jake’s mother Sheryl Marrazzo says her son is a fighter. “It’s like ALS but in children,” she says. “If you can imagine watching someone you love with all your heart struggle it’s hard wrenching.”

Visit WBZ-TV to read the rest of this article.