Liam Rust, Age 12
Sparta, NJ

Home and Family

Liam lives with his sister Emma, and parents Laura and Bill Rust along with his cats and dogs.

Diagnosis

Liam is diagnosed with Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). It is a genetic disease affecting the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement. The age at which SMA symptoms begin roughly correlates with the degree to which motor function is affected: The earlier the age of onset, the greater the impact on motor function. The biggest potential problems in SMA are respiratory muscle weakness, swallowing muscle weakness, and back muscle weakness with progressive spinal curvature.

School

Liam is in middle school, where he enjoys Science, Math and Reading.

Interests

Liam loves playing computer games, reading, comedy, improve, music, singing, cats and dogs.

MDA Activities

Liam has been a local goodwill ambassador and spokesperson at the MDA/CITGO Golf outing and has participated in MDA Summer Camp where he enjoys laughing with his friends and always WOWs everyone with his awesome singing voice.