Danny Story

Younger one Danny – Early Diagnosis: Danny’s diagnosis with muscular dystrophy (MD) was confirmed in the United States when he was only six. Outwardly he seemed a perfectly healthy boy except for a slight limp in his walk. However, in 1988 it was confirmed that he had Duchene MD. The news broke the Gnaniahs’ hearts as they heard that the disease could be fatal as no medical cure has been found. Moreover, the disease could drastically cut short one’s life span and is known to gradually kill the patient. Danny’s disability quickly began to manifest and when he turned eight, he began to use a wheel chair. Nevertheless, to the family’s joy, Danny was able to go on to graduate from high school in 2000 overcoming several challenges along the way. ​Growing Up Years Being on the Fuller campus together was great for the family, and the two brothers had a very good time with each other. As a family, the Gnaniahs loved going to baseball and basketball games, and they have fond memories of going to places such as the Dodger’s stadium. Later, when Onesi left to study at Santa Barbara, Danny missed him greatly and so every time Onesi came home for his breaks or summer vacation, he was determined to spend as much time as possible together. In 1993 while lying flat on his back following leg surgery he was lying in bed, soon after recovering from the surgical pain he never complained of his pains and struggles but had an amazingly spirit, gentle and always cheerful with enduring patience despite being in utter weakness. He was very quick witted and his sense of humor was greatly applauded by those around him. ​Danny’s Vision: “To Impart love and care to the Muscular Dystrophy patients and their families in India through offering available assistance and guiding them to experience relief, courage and faith.”

What is Danny and Friends?

Danny & Friends is an organization that was founded in August 1992 to provide assistance to the patients who have been affected by Muscular Dystrophy (MD). It is named after Danny who was the second son of Jawahar and Ranjini Gnaniah. Danny was diagnosed as being affected by MD when he was four years old. He died in the year 2000 when he was 18.

Danny & Friends is a NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION, registered with the Government of India as a charitable agency. It was started with the main objective of providing Medical, Financial, and Emotional support to Patients and their Families with desperate needs.

What is Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of genetic diseases in which muscle degeneration causes the rapid deterioration of the human system. Early signs include the enlargement of the calf and deltoid muscles, low endurance, and difficulties standing. As the condition worsens, muscle tissue experience wasting and patients may have trouble breathing and swallowing. Moreover, patients eventually become wheelchair-dependent between the ages of 8-12. While there is no cure for MD, some treatments can slow the course of the disease. Ultimately, however, the disease results in muscle degeneration and eventual death at an early age.

The Aims and Objectives of Danny and Friends:

It is committed to serving the community as follows

1. Creating an awareness about the muscular Dystrophy Disease to the public and institutions (as awareness of Muscular dystrophy is very very minimal).
2. Finding Patients and assessing their need for assistance.
3. Extending the basic available Medical aid such as physical and occupational therapy and helping with the diagnostic tests periodically.
4. Forming support groups of the affected families, encouraging and helping them mentally.
5. Communicating any breakthroughs achieved through the research in the Medical world.

What has been done by Danny & Friends in the past 30+ years?

1. Has registered 300+ patients in the STATE OF TAMILNADU alone.
2. Provided wheel chairs and walkers.
3. Arranged field trips every year to tourist attraction places with their families. For most of the patients those trips tend to become the only outing out of their homes.
4. Arranges special dinners during Anniversay, Christmas, New Year, and Danny’s birthday (Danny’s day) followed by gift giving.
5. Television sets, foam mattress, pillows and Steel Cots have been given as gifts.
6. Monitory Support to poor families of Muscular dystrophy children every month with financial assistance to help with food and other necessities.
7. Conducts awareness programmes and seminars in colleges and institutions.
8. Organize parent support groups.
9. Care Ministry: Periodically the staff visit the hurting families of Muscular dystrophy children to pray for them.
10. Also the bereaved families are being visited to offer comfort and encouragement. To some of the organization had to meet even with the funeral expenses.

Physiotherapy Project: We have 2 Physiotherapist. One takes care of the Physio unit in Danny and Friends Centre, while other one goes for the Physio project to all the houses of the Muscular dystrophy patients in Trichy. Their Parents are also involved in the Physio treatment. They are taught to do the exercises and the Physio therapist will be back to the same family in the 1^st week of every month to do the follow-up and continue the same. Therefore in 4 weeks she visits 25 children in Trichy alone.