Being diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) does not necessarily mean that you cannot achieve great success and to lead a happy and productive life. We’ve compiled a list of eight people who have the condition who have lived their lives to the full and gone on to be very successful…
Follow the story of AJ Brockman in this film shared in 2011. AJ is an award-winning digital artist from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida who has always loved art. Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in infancy, AJ has been wheelchair-bound since he was two years old. Chris…
This emotional ACT for SMA film was shown at the charity’s annual Butterfly Ball, which was held on October 22 at the Branston Hall Hotel in Lincoln, UK. It features parents of children with SMA and their personal stories. The ball raises awareness of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY_h0OabPXg Nora’s a sweet six-year-old girl who was born with type I spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Watch a documentary about nine-year-old Philly and his journey with type II SMA. When Nora isn’t playing Pirate Fairies with her mom and dad, she had to be fed via a stomach tube.
This MDA video–a part of its Live Unlimited initiative– is all about Haley Frieler. Haley was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at two years old and has spent her life in a wheelchair. She hasn’t let her SMA get in the way of achieving her goal of working in…
This video from Muscular Dystrophy Queensland follows several patients who have different forms of degenerative muscular conditions. Watch a touching documentary about 11-year-old SMA patient, Philly. Eight-year-old Jack has type II spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and 49-year-old Tracy has facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FHSD MD). The two talk about the…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqZd5xENtrk This video from Goodentree is all about Nora, a seven-year-old girl who has type I spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). We catch up with her as she recovers from a bout of aspiration pneumonia. Learn more about the progression of spinal muscular atrophy here. Nora loves watching TV,…
This ASCA video introduces Chris Leon from Verdugo Hills High. Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) as a baby, Chris was not expected to live past two years old. However, he defied all odds and is now a 22-year-old student. Meet Joe Akmakjian, a 24-year-old SMA patient who is…
Using computer graphics, this animated film from Fusion Medical Animation explains the mechanisms of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Characterized by a degeneration of the motor neurons in the spinal cord, SMA leads to muscle wastage. Read about five experimental therapies for SMA you might find interesting. The…
**Warning, video contains adult language.** This SoulPancake film, shared in April 2013, is all about Shane Burcaw, a 20-year-old student with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Find out about the fourth grader who made her classmate’s dream come true. The film follows Shane and his friends…
