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  • Columnist Writes About Existing and Emerging Treatments

    Posted by Community Member on November 8, 2019 at 10:18 am

    Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all have had a great week.

    Check out my latest column here. I wrote about existing and emerging treatments for SMA, and how surreal it all is. At times I don’t even know what to think, especially because I never gave the future of SMA much thought when I was growing up. It’s a lot of mixed emotions for me personally.

    Do any of you ever feel this way? Do you have any thoughts about future treatments?

    Community Member replied 3 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Community Member

    Member

    I think this is something that we can all relate to. Growing up I assumed the cure for SMA wouldn’t be developed in my lifetime. I thought my efforts to help with research and fundraising would benefit future generations. I never imagined that I might actually get to experience those benefits for myself. It’s amazing to see how far the research has come, and leaves me believing that I actually might see the day that SMA is cured.

    • Community Member

      Member

      Totally agree. It’s like I was brought along to all of the MDA and SMA fundraisers when I was a kid, but I never thought about the research seriously benefitting people in our generation. Back when Zolgensma got FDA-approved, I wrote another column about what these advancements mean for us. Check it out here.

  • Community Member

    Member

    I second everything Halsey said. Never in my life did I think there would be a treatment available for me. It’s absolutely incredible the strides that are being made in the SMA community— we are literally witnessing history being made.

    • Community Member

      Member

      It really is surreal. I’m curious too, since you started Spinraza before any of us, have you noticed any effects lately? What have your energy levels been like?

      • Community Member

        Member

        I feel as though I may have plateaued? I’m not entirely sure. I have definitely felt gains in my respiratory function, ability to chew/swallow/smile, and even in my stamina since I started 3 years ago. But within the last year or so, I feel as though I’ve stayed the same. Which is still great— better than declining!! Still waiting on that muscle elixir though.

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