SMA Fundraiser At Throwbacks In Woodbury, Minnesota

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Fundraiser

Spaghetti Dinner, Raffles, Guitar Hero Contest, and other games and prizes!
Host:
Terisa Syvertsen, Melissa Wiegele
Type:
Causes - Fundraiser
Date:
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Time:
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Location:
Throwbacks
Street:
1690 Woodlane Drive
City/Town:
Woodbury, MN
Email:
mailto:MelissaWiegele@aol.com,%20tesyvertsen@gmail.com
Description

Hey everyone,Please read the information provided below on spinal muscular atrophy. It would be great if you could come to Throwbacks on April 18th from 3:00 to 6:00 and participate in all the events to raise money for three Woodbury families who have children with SMA. Tickets are $10.00 per adult and $5.00 per studentWe are also looking for raffle prizes so if you can donate any or know of anyone that may be able to, please let me know. These children and their families have a great deal of medical costs that continue to grow as they get older, including constant home repairs and medical equipment. Hopefully we can raise some money to make a difference in their lives. The children and families have personally touched my life, hopefully we can touch their lives by reaching out in a time of need. Thank you everyone! God Bless!A special thanks to Joe and Missy Weigele who have been a great help to me in putting this together - Please see Missy's message below!Hey Guys, I really wanted to send this out in hopes that you all will attend. It is a benefit on April 18th, 2009 for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). These four kids are all from Woodbury, Minnesota ages 8 months to 7 years old and bound to a wheelchair. These families go through so much to attempt at a normal life, but the costs of there daily life are immense. The cost for a lift is around $18,000 and a wheelchair is close to $30,000. I have enclosed a flyer that has all the benefit information and also below I have some info on SMA. I really hope you all will take a look. If anyone knows of any companies that would like to donate as well that would be amazing! We really would like to give these families all we can. Thank you guys so much and we hope to see you there.Missy and Joe WiegeleP.S. There will be an account open this week for donations as well. I will have that update for you this week.What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy?Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Types I, II, and III belong to a group of hereditary diseases that cause weakness and wasting of the voluntary muscles in the arms and legs of infants and children. The disorders are caused by an abnormal or missing gene known as the survival motor neuron gene (SMN1), which is responsible for the production of a protein essential to motor neurons. Without this protein, lower motor neurons in the spinal cord degenerate and die. The type of SMA (I, II, or III) is determined by the age of onset and the severity of symptoms. Type I (also known as Werdnig-Hoffman disease, or infantile-onset SMA) is evident at birth or within the first few months. Symptoms include floppy limbs and trunk, feeble movements of the arms and legs, swallowing difficulties, a weak sucking reflex, and impaired breathing. Type II (also known as juvenile SMA, intermediate SMA, or chronic SMA, has an onset between 6 and 18 months. Legs tend to be more impaired than arms. Children with Type II are usually able to sit without support if placed in position. Some may be able to stand or walk with help. Type III (also called Wolhlfart-Kugelberg-Welander disease, or mild SMA) can begin as early as the toddler years or as late as adolescence. Children can stand alone and walk, but may have difficulty getting up from a sitting position.Is there any treatment?There is no cure for SMA. Treatment consists of managing the symptoms and preventing complications.What is the prognosis?The prognosis is poor for babies with SMA Type I. Most die within the first two years. For children with SMA Type II, the prognosis for life expectancy or for independent standing or walking roughly correlates with how old they are when they first begin to experience symptoms - older children tend to have less severe symptoms Children with onset after 18 months are often able to walk and are fully functional for years before they need assistance. They may have a normal life expectancy.