Fatherhood: experiences of fathers of boys diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

This study's aim was to understand the experience of being the father of a boy diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Eight fathers of 10-year-old or older boys diagnosed with DMD, living in RibeirãoPreto and surrounding cities participated in the study. Interviews included a semi-structured script and data were analyzed according to thematic content analysis. The results show that the confirmation of a DMD diagnosis shocked fathers and was mixed with sorrow, helplessness and hopelessness. Most fathers considered the illness of their child to be a mission sent by God, which helps to alleviate the pain and anguish caused by the disease. As the symptoms started manifesting, the fathers experienced losses that exposed them to great suffering and triggered an anticipatory mourning process. The fathers assigned to the disease the meaning of a mission to be accomplished and considered themselves to be "special fathers", which positively influenced their adaptation to the disease. Identifying and understanding how fathers experience fatherhood in the presence of a chronic disease/disability is essential to devising psychological counseling and care programs directed to fathers and their families.