When I was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) at 11 months old, there was no cure or treatment. Vitamins, physical therapy, and respiratory exercises were used in the hope of slowing disease progression and maintaining physical abilities rather than improve health. Five…
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I can’t sit still during a great classic rock tune. Despite my SMA, any muscle fibers that have remained awake will begin to shimmy and shake, and even the muscles that have become withered wallflowers will try to bust a move on the dance floor. When I heard the “…
A few weeks ago, when I was preparing for my eighth Spinraza injection, I had to indulge in an activity that many of us with SMA dread. We manage everything from pneumonia to travel fiascoes, but having to get blood drawn is…
When I first met Elena, my patient care assistant’s daughter, she was almost 2, with chubby cheeks and golden ringlets of hair. She was shy — painfully so. It took her months to warm up to me, and even then she…
I believe that the smallest changes can often yield the most impactful results. Someday when you reflect on your life’s culmination of little moments and modest actions, you will realize they’ve mattered more than the grand gestures. Just like the tiniest pebble can create a ripple effect so too can…
The past two and a half years have seen a whirlwind of celebration in the world of SMA. What I consider one of the best gifts possible for families arrived on Dec. 23, 2016 when, for the first time ever, the FDA gave its approval to an SMA…
We live close to Prairie Elementary School, where Ella and Henry attend. Ava’s in junior high at another location. Henry has just finished fourth grade and will be “king of the hill” in the fifth grade next year. Ella has completed third grade and is excited to…
“You’re so vulnerable! How are you OK with that? It’s such an open way to live life. It’s beautiful.” Oh boy. Firstly, this is a weird thing for someone to say. I don’t know how to respond to it. So, my response often…
On May 24, Zolgensma (previously known as AVXS-101) became the second FDA-approved treatment for SMA. This gene therapy from pharmaceutical companies AveXis and Novartis is a major milestone for the SMA community, as it follows Biogen’s groundbreaking treatment Spinraza (nusinersen)…
I recently spoke at an event called “OutWiGo Girls” for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the enchanting woodland area of Kettle Moraine State Forest. Held in celebration of gals of all ages who share a love of exploring nature, the event’s agenda revolved around an array of…
