{"id":437635,"date":"2026-09-16T11:18:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T11:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/437635\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T11:18:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T11:18:35","slug":"san-antonio-drummer-with-spina-bifida-plays-beats-of-inspiration-for-others-with-resilient-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/437635\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio drummer with spina bifida plays beats of inspiration for others with resilient story"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO \u2013 A San Antonio drummer living with spina bifida<\/a> is hoping the rhythm of his beat raises awareness about his condition and inspires others to never stop dreaming. <\/p>\n

David Michael Damian, also known as Dmyke On Drums<\/a>, was always tapping on something.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was little, I would pull out the pots and pans and I would bring out the chair and would beat on them while my mom was cooking and cleaning while she had music on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Drumming has always been a medicine for the 44-year-old musician. <\/p>\n

\u201cDrumming pretty much has been my outlet,\u201d Damian said. \u201cWith my disability, I am in pain a lot. And I know this may sound clich\u00e9, but when I play music, I feel no pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spina bifida is a disability where the spine and spinal cord do not form properly in the mother\u2019s womb. <\/p>\n

Healthychildren.org<\/a> says roughly 1,300 to 1,500 people are born with it annually in the United States.<\/p>\n

It usually means a life of chronic pain in the legs, joints, or muscles and difficulty or inability to walk.<\/p>\n

Damian uses a chair, crutches and a cane to get around.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a numbness,\u201d he said, describing how he feels every day. \u201cThere\u2019s only tissue at the bottom of my spine. Sitting here, my legs are going numb. When I am lying a certain way, it is like a numbing sharp feeling. Like lightning in your fingertips. It is just weird.\u201d <\/p>\n

Being born with spina bifida has created a life of obstacles for Damian. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was also supposed to be a twin, so when I was born, I had duplicate intestines hanging out plus my spine,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, my parents took me to Houston to the Spina bifida clinic there. They pretty much told my parents that I wasn\u2019t going to make it. I\u2019ve had multiple surgeries on everything. It has been a rollercoaster ride for sure.\u201d <\/p>\n

Damian said he is thankful to have survived that chapter, but his life didn\u2019t get any easier after that. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat is where music came in specifically,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause I was bullied growing up so I would go home and put headphones and I would just drum. So honestly music saved me. Growing up is tough because you know you want to fit in and you\u2019re different and you want to fit in already. Bullying was bad because I walked funny.\u201d <\/p>\n

He said as long as he had a pair of sticks in his hands, he was in a peaceful place. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt saved me because it was always there,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I carried a pair of sticks with me everywhere. It is like a person\u2019s favorite blanket or bear.\u201d <\/p>\n

Because of his situation, doctors have had the best news as far as how long Damian could continue to drum, but he says despite not having the natural movement of a normal drummer, he will drum as long as he can. <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t move my ankles and wasn\u2019t born with calf muscles,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I have to use my thighs with drumming. It is a little hard with the feet aspect of it but that is where I make up for it with my hands.\u201d <\/p>\n

Now, Dmyke On Drums is a professional drummer playing with artists all over Texas. <\/p>\n

He has a very active following and is highly requested, with pictures throughout his journey<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Despite the odds of his condition improving being impossible, he hopes his story creates the possibility of a better world. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt really costs zero dollars to be cool,\u201d Damian said. \u201cYou never know whose day you may brighten just to say, \u2018Hello\u2019 to someone. Everything is possible, they told my parents I wouldn\u2019t be here. And I\u2019ve gotten to do some really cool things musically.\u201d<\/p>\n

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