PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ASKING FOR FUNDING TO HELP CURE SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY (SMA), THE #1 GENETIC KILLER OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 2. THE PETITION WILL ALSO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO FUND AN AWARENESS PROGRAM ABOUT THE CONDITION AND THE AVAILABILITY OF GENETIC TESTING BEFORE PREGNANCY. SADLY LILLY PASSED AWAY ON THE 5TH MARCH 2009, JUST SIX MONTHS OLD. WE KNEW OUR QUEST FOR A CURE WOULD NEVER SAVE LILLY, BUT WE HOPE IT WILL EVENTUALLY SAVE OTHER PRECIOUS BABIES. WE ARE MORE DETERMINED NOW TO CURE SMA AND RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS CONDITION. GO TO http://www.savinglilly.com.au/ FOR MORE ABOUT LILLY
SMA is a disease resulting in worsening muscle weakness due to progressive loss of motor nerve cells (neurons) in the spinal cord (and brainstem).
The motor neurons in the spinal cord are also known as anterior horn cells, these cells relay messages for muscle movement from the nerve cells in our brains, to the muscles in our limbs, chest, throat, face and mouth.
SMA is not a disease of the brain, the muscles or the sensory nerves (the nerves that relay feelings back to our brains). The muscles do however eventually weaken and get smaller (atrophy) because they do not receive stimulation from motor neurons. SMA types I and II are due to abnormalities of the SMNI gene (the Survival Motor Neuron I gene). If the SMNI gene has reduced or no function, then the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem do not survive, and gradually die off. Children with SMA type 1 do not usually live beyond two years of age.
SMA is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning that if two carriers have children; there is a 25% chance (one in four) of having an affected child in each pregnancy.
