Nearly forty-five years ago, after John and Lois Washburn’s two eldest children were diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the couple began volunteering with MDA and haven’t looked back.
Longtime MDA Summer Camp volunteer Todd Dewey shares why this will be his 28th summer giving back to the organization he loves.
In advance of MDA’s first ever Advocacy Conference, taking place April 23-25, we asked several advocates to unpack the idea of advocacy: what is it, why they became advocates and why it is necessary for others to follow their examples. Their responses follow.
Air Force Senior Airman Mike Hall, 20th Aerospace Medicine Squadron flight and operation medical technician conquered the 2017 Boston Marathon with Team Momentum, running for his sister Danielle, in memory of his brother DJ and for all families impacted by neuromuscular diseases.
I’m a 25-year-old college graduate. I’m an adult and I can prove it. I have bills, grown-up responsibilities and the obligation to do things I don’t want to do. Still, regardless of the date of birth listed on my Colorado State ID, some people still treat me like a kid. Unfortunately, a lot of the world finds it easy to infantilize people with disabilities.
Being chosen to speak in front of the FDA and represent the SMA community makes me feel incredibly honored. Today’s SMA Patient-Focused Drug Development (PFDD) meeting with the FDA means we have a voice as patients living with rare muscle diseases. The PFDD meeting was set up so that patients with SMA and the parents of children with SMA could stand before the FDA and voice their concerns, discuss their experiences with research and address the need for continued research that evolves to include more patients. This is my story.
Learn why five MDA families are equally dedicated to Muscle Walk — and why you should also support this incredible cause.
Many families whose children have spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) endure a long and difficult diagnostic odyssey. This may soon change, however, based on recommendations MDA recently made with a coalition of partners that SMA should be added to the list of conditions newborns are screened for at birth in the United States.
Over the past 35 years, the MDA Shamrocks program has raised more than $300 million to help save and improve the lives of families living with muscular dystrophy. Get to know Maya, who graces the 2017 green MDA Shamrock.
Over the past 35 years, the MDA Shamrocks program has raised more than $300 million to help save and improve the lives of families living with muscular dystrophy. Get to know Torrance, who graces the 2017 gold MDA Shamrock.
