In recognition of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month in September, the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Community Spotlight campaign features a series of stories highlighting the real-life experiences of people affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy, written in their own words. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Pinterest for more stories like this, using the hashtag #MDSpotlight, or read the full series.
Jacob Hill, who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, focuses on finding solutions and not taking no for an answer. (Courtesy of Jacob Hill)
Building a business is hard. Building one with a physical disability is 10 times harder. But with the right systems in place, it is possible. Growing up with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), I learned how to adapt to my loss of strength and come back stronger than before, whether that meant using a wheelchair or modifying how I ate.
In 2011, I came home from the hospital following my spinal fusion surgery. Surgeons had implanted rods to straighten my spine and correct scoliosis associated with DMD. I had gone to dinner, and I couldn’t reach my mouth to feed myself. Straightening my spine made me a foot taller. It felt like a mile.
This was difficult to face, but I knew giving up wasn’t an option. I’m a problem solver at heart. I’m empowered by situations where I can’t do something or I hear the word “no.” No wasn’t an option, so I found a taller table to rest my arms, allowing me to eat independently. I adapted and went on with life.
That experience taught me to find solutions — even when none seemed obvious. The same mindset helps me run my company today. I have developed systems and workflows to reduce the burden of repetitive tasks. Custom buttons for my digital keyboard help me type preset text, trigger commands, or open specific apps — all with a single press. Custom email templates help me with outreach to suppliers.
I’ve accepted that there are things I can’t do, like product fulfillment, forcing me to master the art of delegation. Explaining a vision clearly is hard. But managing my care has taught me how to communicate clearly and lead.
My company, SHRx24, and our latest brand, PlushyCloud Bed Pillows, exist because I refused to accept no for an answer. We’ve reimagined basic bed pillows by merging them with buttery-soft, lifelike, huggable plushies. They feel and look like plushies, but for sleep. We are still in our infancy, but I believe we’ll grow into a household name around the world.
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