AUGUST IS NATIONAL S.M.A. AWARENESS MONTH

It’s almost time for kids to go back to school. But did you know that there is a disease killing thousands of our school age children each year? That disease is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (or SMA). Of children diagnosed before age two, 50 percent will die before their second birthday.

SMA is the number one genetic killer of children under the age of two. It destroys the nerves controlling voluntary muscle movement, which affects crawling, walking, head and neck control, and swallowing. Children with this disease are intelligent and sensitive, and unusually sociable, but their bodies don’t work for them.

There is no cure for SMA. Research needs to be done so that we can put an end to this disease and save the lives of our children. During National SMA Awareness Month, or anytime of the year, you can help by funding research to find a cure for this killer of children. For more information on SMA please visit the Families of SMA website at: http://www.fsma.org/.

Skylar Elizabeth – age 2. Diagnosed with SMA at 4 months of age.

Skylar Elizabeth is a two year old who suffers from SMA. She’s a member of the HUGS and HOPE Club for Sick Children. The club, headquartered in Harshaw, Wisconsin, is devoted to giving sick kids like Skylar something to smile about. To learn more about Skylar, the HUGS and HOPE Club, and more children with serious illnesses -- as well as how YOU can help brighten their day, visit the HUGS and HOPE web site at http://www.hugsandhope.org

If you know of a critically ill child who could use a smile, please email hugsandhopeATgmail.com