ETHAN AND OLLIE’S JOURNEY
Two brothers, one family, and a call for community support – a story of courage, love, and hope.
Matakana brothers Ethan (14) and Ollie (11) King are both living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic condition that causes muscles to weaken and waste over time. The illness gradually takes away mobility, and eventually affects every muscle in the body, including the heart and lungs.
For parents Corinne and Mike, the diagnosis was devastating, but it also sparked a fierce determination to give their boys the best life possible. Mike works locally as a builder for Leigh Builders/Tiny Living, while Corinne manages the boys’ complex medical care, runs a small support group for parents of disabled kids in Mahurangi and cleans houses part time.
Ethan, the older of the two, is an outgoing, funny teenager who loves his pug, Pablo, trucks, and filming videos of the two for TikTok. Younger brother Ollie has a gentler nature and adores his friends and animals, especially his French bulldog, Shadow. Both boys now use power wheelchairs to get around the community, and as their condition progresses, they will eventually require wheelchairs full-time.
In 2022, the family made the brave decision to enrol both boys in a three-year international clinical trial for an exon-skipping drug designed to slow the progression of DMD. While not a cure, the treatment offered hope – “something rather than nothing,” as Mike puts it. The study has since finished, but Ethan and Ollie continue to receive the medication weekly through a portacath at Starship Hospital, often alongside other medical and specialist appointments.
At home, another challenge looms: their house is no longer suited to the boys’ changing needs. To maintain safety and independence, the family must make extensive accessibility modifications – widening hallways, installing durable flooring, creating a wheelchair-friendly bathroom and shower, and installing electronic doors so the boys can move freely within their own home.
Through their Givealittle campaign, “Two Brothers Need an Accessible Home”, the Kings are raising funds to make this vision possible. The community’s generosity is greatly appreciated, bringing comfort and renewed strength to a family that refuses to give up hope.
Away from hospital visits and the many challenges of living with weak muscles, Ethan and Ollie remain like any other brothers – laughing, teasing, and dreaming big. Their journey is one of resilience, and the belief that, with the support of many, even the hardest road can be faced together.
www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/Two-Brothers-Need-An-Accessible-Home
Follow Corinne’s personal blog to learn more about their day to day lives – Facebook: Ethan & Ollie’s Journey