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Archive for July 2010

SMA Non-walkers and Weight Gain

Posted: July 30th, 2010 | By: Staff | No Comments
Friday, July 30th, 2010

In the current issue of Quest magazine, our friends at MDA discuss a recent multi-center study that suggests spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients who are unable to walk but are otherwise considered to have “relatively high motor function” are at a higher risk for weight gain. This is when compared to SMA patient who do walk and to SMA patients who do not walk but have a lower level of motor function. The results seem to reinforce the importance of managing nutrition in the care of SMA patients.

To read the entire article in Quest, click here. To read the abstract of the study, click here.

For more information about SMA and nutrition, check out the links below.

  • “Spinal Muscular Atrophy GI and Nutrition Care” on FightSMA’s website
  • “Investigating the Impact of Nutrition on SMA” from the FightSMA’s blog
  • A Family Guide to the Consensus Statement for Standard of Care in Spinal Muscular Atrophy
    Published by The Patient Advisory Group of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) for SMA Clinical Trials
  • Consensus Statement for Standard of Care in Spinal Muscular Atrophy
    Prepared by the Standard of Care Committee for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a standing committee of the International Coordinating Committee for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Comments (0)
Categories : Spinal Muscular Atrophy Science and Research

Senate Hearing on Rare and Neglected Pediatric Diseases

Posted: July 29th, 2010 | By: Staff | No Comments
Thursday, July 29th, 2010

On July 21, 2010, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) heard testimony from panelists discussing Rare and Neglected Pediatric Diseases. One of these diseases was spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Dr. Alan GuttmacherTwo of the panelists were Dr. Alan Guttmacher and Mr. John F. Crowley.

Dr. Guttmacher, who is the Acting Director at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), spoke on the importance of SMA and SMA research to NIH and its officials.

John F. CrowleyMr. Crowley, CEO and Chairman of Amicus Therapeutics, spoke about patient advocacy, and the admirable work and advocacy that FightSMA has exhibited over the years.

Click here to read the transcript of Dr. Guttmacher’s testimony and here for the transcript of Mr. Crowley’s testimony. For more information about the hearing, including the testimony of other panelists and video of the hearing, click here.

Comments (0)
Categories : FightSMA News, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Science and Research

Moving the campaign forward

Posted: July 27th, 2010 | By: Staff | No Comments
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

FightSMA is proud to have received $8,000 to support the “Realizing the Dream” campaign from two private foundations. The contributions were at the recommendation of individuals who champion FightSMA’s mission to accelerate the search for a treatment and cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Requesting gifts from a foundation or organization or from a friend or relation is one way that supporters of the SMA community are channeling funding to SMA research. (Learn more about how to do this by clicking here.) But, for those who find this fundraising avenue to be inaccessible, there are other tools. These are just a few.

  • Fighter Mom™ Manual – The Fighter Mom™ manual is a guide and reference tool to help mothers (and others) take on the challenge of “doing something” after they’ve discovered their child, grandchild, niece, nephew or special child in their life is battling any chronic and possibly life-threatening disease.
  • Firstgiving – Firstgiving allows you to create a personal webpage to raise funds for FightSMA (listed as “Andrew’s Buddies Corporation”). Set a fundraising goal and then tell your friends and family by adding a link in your emails, website, blog, or social networking site.
  • Causes – Are you a member of Facebook? If so, join the FightSMA (Andrew’s Buddies) Cause and you can use it to tell your friends about the “Realizing the Dream” campaign and engage them in efforts to collect donation for the fundraising project. (Have a birthday coming up? Use Causes to make a birthday wish for gene therapy.)
  • GoodSearch and GoodShop – GoodSearch enables you to raise funds through the simple act of searching the Internet. Start your online shopping at GoodShop or download the toolbar and a percentage of what you spend will be donated to FightSMA at no extra cost to you!

To learn more about spinal muscular atrophy, the promise for SMA gene therapy, and the “Realizing the Dream” campaign, visit www.FightSMA.org.

Comments (0)
Categories : FightSMA Articles, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Families and Friends

New Mexico Chapter Holds First Bowling Tournament

Posted: July 20th, 2010 | By: Staff | No Comments
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

2010 Desiree's Buddies Bowling Tournament

On Saturday, July 10, Desiree’s Buddies, FightSMA’s New Mexico chapter, held it’s first annual bowling tournament. The fund raised will help support FightSMA’s mission to strategically accelerate the search for a treatment and cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), including FightSMA’s recently launched gene therapy fundraising initiative “Realizing the Dream“.

Thank you to everyone who came out to bowl and to support Desiree’s Buddies.

2010 Desiree's Buddies Bowling Tournament

Comments (0)
Categories : FightSMA News, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Families and Friends

Congratulations to Dr. Leshner

Posted: July 19th, 2010 | By: Staff | No Comments
Monday, July 19th, 2010

Dr. Robert LeshnerCongratulations to long-time friend and advisor to FightSMA, Dr. Robert Leshner (pictured left), for his presentation about Pompe Disease at the 12th International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases Meeting in Naples, Italy over the weekend. It was described by one of his peers as a wonderful talk by an internationally respected man often unrecognized because of his modest nature.

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Categories : General Information
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