Families of SMA
We are selling maze activity books for children ("SMAZES") to benefit the non-profit organization Families of SMA.

Our inspiration for this project is Violet Madison Wehrkamp, who lost her life to SMA at just six months old on August 27, 2010. Since her passing, her parents, Bill and Alllison Wehrkamp have fought tirelessly to help raise awareness about SMA through their website "Little Flower Violet". Little Flower Violet provides information about SMA, the story of Violet's life and battle with SMA and has a store where you can purchase items for which proceeds go to rasise awareness and continue research for a cure. PLEASE donate today to the cause by purchasing a SMAzes book here.

About SMA
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease characterized by degeneration of motor neurons, resulting in progressive muscular atrophy (wasting away) and weakness. The clinical spectrum of SMA ranges from early infant death to normal adult life with only mild weakness. Genetic counseling is also helpful for the parents and family members. Sensation and the ability to feel are not affected. Intellectual activity is normal and it is often observed that patients with SMA are unusually bright and sociable. SMA is a genetic disease. It is incurable, untreatable, research is under-funded and, in most cases, it is fatal.

The cold hard facts about Spinal Muscular Atrophy:

• 1 in 6000 babies are born with SMA

• Over 60% of these babies are diagnosed before 6 months of age

• 90% of these babies will not live to see their 2nd birthday

• SMA kills more babies each year than any other gentic disease

• 1 in 40 people are genetic carriers of SMA (that means 7 million potential parents, most unknowingly, carry this abnormal gene).

• Pre-Pregnancy screening tests for 37 different genetic diseases. SMA, the genetic disease that kills more babies each year than any other is NOT one of the 37.

Our goal is to help raise awareness about this terrible disease and to have SMA screening added to the list of standard Pre-Pregnancy screenings.