Austin and Connor Vassigh, 19-year-old twins from Spring, Texas, have always had a close bond. They say they don’t need many words to communicate; they usually know just by looking at one another what the other is thinking.
They have their own interests – Austin enjoys working out and Connor is a foodie who loves to travel. But the twins generally stick together. They enjoy playing video games and spending time with the family’s four dogs. They also own and operate their own lawn care business, Spring Hope Lawn Care, enlisting their three younger brothers to help.
Together, the twins also navigate the day to day of Connor living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Connor was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder at age 2, so Duchenne has been part of their lives for as long as they can remember. As Connor’s disease has progressed, the brothers have adapted in a multitude of ways: Austin helps Connor with tasks around the house, like opening the refrigerator or transferring to bed. Once Austin got his driver’s license, he began driving the pair (and Connor’s service dog, Teddy) to high school in the family’s accessible van. Meanwhile, Connor, with his quiet and sly sense of humor, keeps things grounded with some friendly brotherly teasing, while also referring to his twin as “a great friend to have at all times.”
The brothers faced a new challenge in the fall of 2024 as they embarked on their college journeys: they were going to be apart for the first time. Austin headed to Texas A&M to study Business and Connor to Lone Star Community College to study Communications. “I felt like a part of me was missing,” Austin said.
Despite the unfamiliar territory, they both embraced the opportunity and started school with a shared honor: Route 79 Scholar, as both are recipients of Sarepta's Route 79, the Duchenne Scholarship Program.
The program, named after the 79 exons in the dystrophin gene affected by Duchenne, aims to support students diagnosed with Duchenne and their siblings in pursuing their post-high school educational goals. Sarepta annually awards up to 20 academic scholarships to individuals living with Duchenne and five additional scholarships to siblings. Since its inception, Sarepta has awarded nearly 140 scholarships.
“Route 79 supports the educational aspirations of young people with Duchenne and their siblings, and the program reflects the rich diversity, varied interests and dreams of the community,” said Wendy Erler, senior vice president of Patient Affairs at Sarepta.
While Connor admits he initially had some reservations about starting college and navigating a new environment, he believes living with Duchenne uniquely prepared him for the challenge: “I have learned that courage is not being fearless but the willingness to move forward despite serious challenges,” he wrote in his Route 79 application essay. “My belief in focusing on what I can do and not the many things I cannot do, even in the face of adversity, is driven by my resolve not to allow my condition to define or limit my aspirations.”
The brothers now hope that in sharing their experiences as Route 79 Scholars, they will encourage other young people with Duchenne and their siblings to apply. “We don't really know what life has in store for us, but I would say give yourself an opportunity to go for it and pursue your goals,” Connor said.
Watch this video to learn more about Connor and Austin’s experiences with the scholarship and their transition to college. Additionally, hear from their parents, Brian and Deanna, as they discuss how they support their sons.
Learn more about Route 79, The Scholarship Program here.
