'Teen Mom 2' Star Leah Calvert, 'Why My Child?' Mom Asks of Daughter's Muscular Dystrophy
"Teen Mom 2" star Leah Calvert burst into tears during an interview with Dr. Drew Pinsky as she spoke about daughter Ali's diagnosis of muscular dystrophy. Leah questioned why her daughter had to suffer with the disease and what it might mean for her future.
"She is the sweetest little baby," Leah said. "She would do anything for anyone. It's like, why her?"
The 4-year-old has seemingly had health problems from birth, when Leah delivered her and twin sister Aleeah, known as "Gracie." While Gracie continued to develop in a normal time-frame, Ali had issues and was unable to walk for the longest time. Leah and ex-husband Corey Simms went to several specialists to see if they could find out what was ailing Ali. It wasn't until this year that they received a diagnosis: muscular dystrophy.
The disease directly affects Ali's ability to move and breathe with ease. As she grows and gets bigger, it will be harder for her to move around and continue breathing. This has led the family to purchase a motorized wheelchair for Ali, which she now uses when she's out in public and at preschool.
"She asks me, 'Mommy, why do I keep falling?'" Leah said. "I just tell her to get up, everything's okay."
Ali has the full support of her mom, dad, and step-parents as well as her grandparents, twin sister, and baby sister Adalyn. The family will continue to make adjustments in order to keep Ali mobile for as long as possible. It's been something that has played out on TV for the world to see and learn from.
Dad Corey Simms revealed that he was having a hard time accepting his daughter's diagnosis and the use of her wheelchair. He reportedly does not want her to use the chair and instead walk as often as possible for as long as possible.
"It just kills you," Corey told Pinsky. "But I want to stay positive and strong for her."
