The Santa Barbara News-Press published a wonderful story this week about Gwendolyn Strong and the efforts her parents are making to let the world know that it’s time for spinal muscular atrophy to be cured.

Gwendolyn, daughter of Bill and Victoria Strong, was born with SMA Type 1.  She needs a breathing machine, a coughing machine, a sucking machine (to help her swallow) and a wide variety of other devices that keep her alive.  Her parents could have gone into a coccoon, just doing their best to take care of her.  Instead, they decided to fight.  They launched PetitionToCureSMA.com, a petition to show the support for the SMA Treatment Acceleration Act.  The act would take a number of steps to help make it easier for researchers to find a cure for SMA, which is the leading genetic killer of children under two.  The petition has gathered nearly 20,000 signatures as of this writing, and is still growing.  Fight SMA is throwing its enthusiastic support behind the effort.

To read the online version of the story, visit the Santa Barbara News-Press website.  Registration is required to view the entire story.  To download a PDF version of the story, click here.  To sign the petition and indicate your support for the SMA Treatment Acceleration Act, click on the banner below.