Positivity… Determination… Motivation…

Only words except these words reign true within the spiritual interior of this young man…

Carl Dean Tilson was born on Friday 13th February 1987, Manchester, England at St Mary’s hospital where he was diagnosed age 5 years old with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy a condition where he would watch his muscles waste away and likely die young!

Growing up he had a normal life as a child, with no indications that he had an illness – running around and riding his bike which he enjoyed as a child, his parents Linda & Fred started to notice their son Carl was beginning to show signs of slowing down and wasn’t keeping up with other children who seemed to be stronger and faster... This was due to the illness Duchenne was deteriorating and making his muscles weaker!   

Like any common person Carl went to school where he attended Chapel Street nursery then following he attended St Andrews main stream School for part of his education however soon was transferred to a special school called Lancasterian where he spent most of his school years... reason being was because at the time he was nine years old and being introduced into a wheelchair that meant he would later on need more support which only a special school could provide, so the decision was made!

At school Carl Tilson achieved so many things which included being a member of the steel band, playing a Russian instrument called a Balalaika, running the computer club and helping out with the school refreshment shop... not to mention scoring high marks on his exams.

As the years for school came to a close Carl did work experience with Siemens and after passing all his exams, he received the Briony Clayton Award from The Town Hall, Manchester which means he was voted in by the staff of the school as the hardest working pupil, he also had a very good attendance record! 

Later he went on to further education attending Tameside College where he studied computer technology and computer multi-media in which he scored high marks with his assignments and exams that were taken.

Carl had spent three years attending college and would have probably carried on however life struck a real blow because suddenly he found himself feeling quite poorly and everything seemed a struggle as he was experiencing tiredness more frequently where he kept feeling a little breathless! 

Following a chest infection Carl went into hospital.   He wasn’t eating a great deal, not because he want to but primarily because he was struggling to consume food and while going through tests the hospital found that the reason he had a chest infection was due to his throat strength deteriorating and food was falling into his chest.

Eventually he had an operation to have a tube put into his stomach for nutrition reasons and was advised not to take anything by mouth with the exception of drinks or liquidised food without any solids.  Wasn’t what Carl really wanted as food was one of his favourite things in life and the only thing that he could fulfil that made him feel more like normal... not being able to eat good meals, he gets upset and disheartened!

That’s not the only operations Carl has been through as he has had quite a few operations in his lifetime where death was always a risk because of Duchenne but he has always come through never looking back!

Earlier in life he had an operation on his back because he experienced scoliosis an excessive curvature of the human spine where in Duchenne patients surgery is needed and although the chances of dying are possible the benefits could extend your life.

Any young man living wants to enjoy life to their full potential unfortunately though Carl wasn’t given a chance and although he would rather be out playing football with his friends he looks for alternative ways that he can enjoy himself where he enjoys using the internet and interacting with his motivational community.  Also when he's out and about he enjoys going to concerts, sports events, football matches and watching wrestling shows.

Despite all he’s been through Carl has dedicated his life to joining Action Duchenne and using his time left helping others trying to generate a stream of motivation and determination with hope he could save the younger generation from going through his experiences.  To call him brave would be an understatement as despite his difficulties he still remains positive and using his sheer determination to obtain a cure is his main motivation!

"Living with this condition is terrible, everything you do there is no getting away from it, people can imagine what it would be like having this relentless illness but they will never know really how bad it can make you feel unless you experience it for yourself!"

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