Growing Up with SMA Type 2 and Surviving the Unthinkable | Dominick Trevethan

by Victor Guerra October 14, 2026

Living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 has required Dominick Trevethan to constantly adapt to circumstances outside of his control. His childhood included not only the progression of SMA, but also family instability, the loss of his father at a young age, and a major spinal fusion surgery at 13 that led to a life-threatening respiratory crisis and an emergency tracheostomy. During recovery, doctors told him he would likely remain dependent on a ventilator around the clock, but after eventually returning home, he was able to remain off ventilator support during the day.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/-nZASvZ6LBk

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/become-the-victor-podcast/id1892258845?i=1000796322289

Listen on Amazon Music:

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d360ddd7-158d-47ae-8505-acecb401dd77/episodes/edfd3941-d9ed-445d-b42a-617287e27f93/become-the-victor-podcast-growing-up-with-sma-type-2-and-surviving-the-unthinkable-dominick-trevethan-victortheinspiration

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hZEMVZaBl5VLaeyvMpSCy?si=P0AX9ix_SKCqurAs-ml1Ag

Listen on iHeartRadio:

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-become-the-victor-podcast-330696431/episode/growing-up-with-sma-type-2-and-surviving-the-unthinkable-dominick-trevethan-victortheinspiration-347622010

His journey toward independence brought another set of challenges when he attended UCLA and lived away from home for the first time. Depending on caregivers meant that missed shifts, late arrivals, and unreliable nursing support could affect everything from getting out of his room to arriving at an exam on time. After eventually leaving UCLA, Dominick continued his education through community college and Arizona State University, earning a degree in communication. Those experiences helped shape his understanding of disability, independence, vulnerability, and advocacy. He realized that independence does not necessarily mean doing everything without assistance; instead, it can mean having the support, resources, and autonomy necessary to make choices and participate fully in life.

That perspective eventually helped inspire The Disability Myth, a platform created to challenge stereotypes, reduce stigma, amplify disabled voices, and create greater understanding between disabled and non-disabled communities. Dominick began by discussing disability alongside his friend and caregiver Uriel, but the platform grew as he realized how many different disability experiences deserved to be heard. Today, his mission extends beyond podcasting as he works toward building a larger community centered on advocacy, education, connection, and disability rights. His story demonstrates that living with a progressive disability can involve loss, uncertainty, and difficult transitions, but it can also create opportunities to build community, educate others, and use lived experiences to help change the way society understands disability.

Listen to This Interview Turned into an AI Song:

https://youtu.be/a-f32krIeIY

Watch Clips from Full Episode on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQDk9_NULlnc&si=e9LPx8e9sZyOnNx8

Connect with Dominick Trevethan:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/domdman/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Disability-Myth/61550496539244/

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@thedisabilitymyth

YouTube: