Bryant “B.J.” Bond, Age 12
Stafford, TX

Home and Family

BJ lives with his mother and miniature poodle, Cinnamon.

Diagnosis

In 2005, he was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type III, at Texas Children’s Hospital, an MDA Clinic in Houston. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) 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. Therefore, 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

BJ is a 6th grader in middle school. He enjoys Math, Science, Debate, and participating in Model United Nations.

Interests

He is creative and dedicates much of his time to drawing, sculpting, building, and inventing! He has a special interest in insects and science fiction movies, such as Godzilla and Lord of the Rings.

MDA Activities

BJ loves MDA Summer Camp so much that one year he chose to go to camp over Disneyland! He is a huge supporter of MDA and our programs such as: MDA Muscle Walk, Shamrocks, and local gala events.