Featured Friend for November 2010

Introducing:



Leah Jean Miller was born September 29, 2004. She has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1. Leah was born a “normal” child. She laughed, cried, played and enjoyed every minute, but at 5 months old she was not progressing like normal children. She started Physical therapy because Drs. thought she was a lazy baby, but as a precaution she was sent to see a Neurologist. She was tested for many things. In July of 2005 she was diagnosed with SMA- Prognosis 2 years. We were devastated, but we vowed to give Leah the most normal life possible. Leah got sick in November, and spent 3 months in the Hospital- getting treatments, G-tube surgery and learning her new way of life. She went home till April. On April 22nd 2006 Leah coded at home. She stopped breathing for 10 minutes. She was in a coma, given no hope, Drs. said a choice had to be made, and 5 minutes later she woke up. Leah lost many things from this “episode” some of which she has never regained, but she has regained her passion for life, and the ability to touch the hearts of everyone she meets.

There is Hope.

We continue to be amazed by the medical advancements in Gene Therapy that are being made at Ohio State University. We Pray that one day soon there will be a cure.

Objective

We live one day at a time making each day the best it can possibly be. On September 29, 2010 Leah Celebrated her 6th Birthday. Many SMA kids never make it this far. It is our hope that we can spread the word, and raise enough money to one day END this disease. By donating YOU can make a difference.



A little more about Leah:

Leah is as fancy as they come. She is very much of a girly- girl. She loves books, music, cooking shopping, and CHAPSTICK. Leah’s body limits her to what she can do on her own, but she has plenty of people that are willing to help her reach all her goals. SMA is a life threatening disease, but it does not take the fun out of her life. She continues to thrive mentally. Our family may be a little different. Leah has to have cough assist treatments twice a day, wears a bi-pap mask to bed, rides in a wheelchair, but there is nothing different about the hope we have for her to live a long and happy life. All we need is a cure!

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 Leah Jean

so we can track the donations!



In Closing...

Thank you for you time and support for Leah and all of these AMAZING kids! With Faith anything is possible & with your help and support one day we will find a cure! For additional information on the OSU ground breaking research on SMA, please visit the Miracle for Madison website, by clicking HERE.

Lots of Luv,
Scott, Nikki & Leah Jean Miller

Featured Angel for November 2010

Lainie Grace Border joined us on September 23, 2002. What a perfect, beautiful baby! Our hearts swelled with LOVE. We had no idea we could love so much! My pregnancy was great, and labor and delivery went smoothly, too. We had a HEALTHY baby and life was the best it had ever been. We brought our daughter home and settled into our new life as a family of three, dreaming about Lainie's future and all the wonderful things we would experience with her. How quickly those dreams came crashing down. At 7 weeks old, Lainie was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type I. With broken hearts, we told our daughter good-bye on February 13, 2003.

Lainie is forever a part of who we are and who we will become. Through all our days on earth, we will miss her smile and the joy she brought us during her short 4 1/2 months. We will also give thanks to God for letting us care for such a special baby girl. To honor her, we continue to stand up with others affected by this terrible disease to raise awareness of SMA, and ultimately raise money to find a CURE!!! Since Lainie's birth, many strides have been made in finding a cure for SMA. We aren't there yet, but we are truly getting there!!! Please help us honor Lainie's memory by donating toward the cure that will mean so much to so many families- those who have lost precious children, those who pray for a cure for their children who currently suffer the effects of SMA, and those who do not yet know how much this cure will mean to them.



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 Lainie Grace

so we can track the donations!

Thank you so much for reading about Lainie and considering donating to end this life-stealing disease.

Love,

Julie, Bret, and Luke (little brother)