Featured Angel for July 2010

INTRODUCTION:
This is Emma Clare Purk. She was born January 3, 1989. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type I, almost right after she was born because her older sister, MJ, had been diagnosed in June of 1988. Emma was always in and out of the hospital many times during her life. On March 25, 1992, Emma passed away with all her favorite stuffed animals around her.

There is HOPE:
Although Emma's life was shortened, drastically, because of SMA and complications associated with it, Emma's entire family continues to support research for a cure for SMA, in memory of Emma. Particularly noteworthy in the field of research, within the last few years, is the ground breaking research being done at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University. Recent reports have SMA as the quote "closest genetic disorder to a cure" and the research efforts, although in their very early stages, are proving effective!!

OBJECTIVE:
Emma outlived many doctor's expectations by living to see her 3rd birthday in January of 1992, By doing so Emma surpassed many other SMA children who, sadly, earned their angel wings much earlier in life ; However, it is our wish that no parent ever has to bury a child because of SMA...Especially when the cure is so close, thanks the efforts of Miracle for Madison & Friends and other organizations. By donating and helping us find a cure for SMA, you can help families, like ours, whose lives are forever altered because of the diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. No parent should ever have to lose a child and, to quote Kenny Chesney "sometimes I wonder who you'd be today"...

A little more about Emma:
Emma was an atypical 3 year old. She was wise beyond her years and knew that her time on earth was short. She had a very giving spirit and lived life to it's fullest extent. Emma loved her family, stuffed animals, especially BearBear, school, movies, especially an exercise video featuring a very attractive 20 something-year-old guy, M&Ms, friends, reading and picking her own clothes. Her physical disabilities limited her from being able to do everything she wanted but she always managed to find ways to express her desire for constant movement. Her frequent hospitalizations would have made an ordinary person feel that life was not worth living but not our Emma. She was a very happy little girl who lived life to the fullest every day that she had!

PLEASE DONATE!
To donate, please locate the "Donate Here" tab, on the far right at the top of the page, to have funds directed towards this groundbreaking research in SMA.
Please mark on your donation via computer or check memo...

IN HONOR of EMMA P.

so we can track the donations!

In Closing...
We wish to thank you for reading about Emma, SMA, and supporting research for cure. SMA changed our lives in ways we never could have imagined. Please help us find a cure!
For additional information on the OSU ground breaking research on SMA, please visit the Miracle for Madison website, by clicking HERE!

Love
The Purk Family