The seasons are changing. The beauty of Fall will be upon us shortly. With it comes chillier temperatures, cloudy days, and the promise of a winter ahead. The promise doesn't end there. Colder weather also holds in its clutches the promise of sickness. For us, it's a matter of life and death when it comes to being sick...Ella's life.
SMA renders its victims so very vulnerable. It robs them of the ability to effectively fight illness. Simple colds. Routines runny noses. Run-of-the-mill coughs. All, and more, present such a threat to children afflicted with SMA.
As the season changes we are hearing that more and more kids with SMA are becoming ill. It's par for the course. It challenges the parents, the medical profession, and the children themselves when an illness progresses to the point of hospitalization; which is often the case.
One thing that remains constant throughout the "sickness season" is the support that is offered through so many avenues. SMA Families rally around each other offering advice, experiences, and practical knowledge. Friends of people who have a child with SMA are cognizant of their own illnesses and exercise caution when planning on being around a child they know has SMA. Family members pitch in and help take care of the daily grind that is life.
While the first frost has yet to come the season ahead is looking us squarely in the face. Being part of the SMA Community at large affords us access to other families who struggle with this disease. One in particular is now dealing with pneumonia...we pray for health and healing as their two year old fights for her life. Our thoughts are with the parents as they have taken their child to the hospital to get the absolute best care they can for her. We follow their updates closely, knowing the feelings they are encountering.
SMA leaves its victims vulnerable. The change from health to sickness is often swift and can be deathly severe. It's a reality that every parent whose child has SMA must live with. It's scary. It's intimidating. It's awful. Yet, it's what we have to endure; for the love of our children, for the hope of a treatment or cure, for the chance to spend one more day with our beautiful children.
