On August 9, 2008, we were able to fulfill the first round of applications for therapeutic equipment!!!

Please read the stories below!

Our first recipient was Karah.  She is a two year old little girl who lives with her parents (Justin and Danielle), her older sister (Alyssa), and older brother (Sean).  She was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1.  She is a very bright little girl who currently receives speech and physical therapy, as well as assistive technology services.  At this time her family requested a Honda Generator.  The generator will help give the family piece of mind during storms.  At this time Karah uses a BiPap Machine, Emerson Cough Assist, Suction Machine, and Pulse Ox throughout the day and night.  This has become a problem in the past when the power has gone out.  Because of the Spreading the Wings of Angels foundation, Karah's family can stay in their home during storms, instead of heading to the hospital! 

What is SMA?

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the number one genetic killer of children under the age of two, is an often fatal disease that destroys the nerves controlling voluntary muscle movement, which affects crawling, walking, head and neck control, and even swallowing.

WHO IS AFFECTED
SMA is one of the most prevalent genetic disorders.

• One in every 6,000 babies is born with SMA.
• SMA can strike anyone of any age, race or gender.
• One in every 40 people carries the gene that causes SMA. The child of two carriers has a one in four chance of developing SMA. 
• 7.5 million Americans are carriers.

THE TYPES OF SMA
SMA Patients are classified into four types based on milestones achieved at onset of SMA. Type I and II are the most prevalent.

• Type I, or Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, is the most severe form of SMA. Type I SMA strikes infants between birth and six months old. Children affected with Type I cannot sit without support.
• Type II affects infants between seven and 18 months old. Type II patients may be able to sit unaided or even stand with support. They are at increased risk for complications from respiratory infections.
• Type III, also known as Kugelberg-Welander Disease, is the least deadly form of childhood-onset SMA. It strikes children as early as the age of 18 months, but can surface as late as adolescence. Type III patients are able to walk, but weakness is prevalent. Most patients eventually need to use a wheelchair.
• Type IV is the adult form of the disease. Symptoms tend to begin after age 35.
  

SMA does not affect sensation and intellectual activity in patients. It commonly is observed that patients with SMA are unusually bright and sociable.

For more information, please visit www.fsma.org .  

Because of Spreading the Wings of Angels.....

A family sleeps better, with a little less fear....

A mom and older sister can play with their little angel...

Alyssa will not be forgotten!  We will always have an angel by our side!

All the parents were extremely grateful for the equipment, but Matthew's mom brought me to tears.  She said, "When you go see Alyssa, please tell her thank you!"

Our second recipient was Malia.  She was born on 12/27/07.  She was born with CMV.  At this time she is receiving developmental intervention and speech therapy.  She has recently been fitted for hearing aides because of losing her hearing due to the virus.  At this time they believe that she might be losing her vision as well.  Her mother requested toys and seating equipment.  We were able to deliver Malia a lot of fun things!!What is CMV?

General Information

• Between 50% and 80% of adults in the United States are infected with CMV by 40 years of age
• CMV is the most common virus transmitted to a pregnant woman's
  unborn child
• Approximately 1 in 150 children is born with congenital CMV infection
• Approximately 1 in 750 children is born with or develops permanent disabilities due to CMV
• Approximately 8,000 children each year suffer permanent disabilities caused by CMV
• Congenital CMV (meaning present at birth) is as common a cause of serious disability as Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and neural tube defects

About the Virus

• CMV is found throughout the world in all geographic and socioeconomic groups, but, in general, it is more widespread in developing countries and in areas of lower socioeconomic conditions
• CMV is a member of the herpesvirus family, which includes the herpes simplex viruses and the viruses that cause chicken pox (varicella-zoster virus) and infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus)
• CMV is found in body fluids, including urine, saliva (spit), breast milk, blood, tears, semen, and vaginal fluids
• Once CMV is in a person's body, it stays there for life
• Most CMV infections are "silent," meaning they cause no signs or symptoms in an infected person
• CMV can cause disease in unborn babies and in people with a weakened immune system

Transmission and Prevention (How people become infected with CMV)

• Transmission of CMV occurs from person to person, through close contact with body fluids (urine, saliva (spit), breast milk, blood, tears, semen, and vaginal fluids), but the chance of getting CMV infection from casual contact is very small.
• In the United States, about 1%-4% of uninfected mothers have primary (or first) CMV infection during a pregnancy.
• 33% of women who become infected with CMV for the first time during pregnancy pass the virus to their unborn babies.
• No actions can totally eliminate all the risks of getting CMV, but there are simple measures that can reduce spread of the disease. 

Our third recipient was Matthew.  He is a little boy who has been receiving speech, developmental intervention, and occupational therapy through First Steps.  He is currently making progress with communication.  He is also diagnosed with sensory processing disorder.  His parents submitted an application requesting oral motor equipment (to increase speech sound production and awareness of his mouth) and sensory tools that will help with his daily routine.  The foundation purchased his "critter vibes" and straw therapy kit for oral motor.  We also purchased a "resistance tunnel" for his sensory needs.

This is Matthew in his new tunnel!

A Summary Of Sensory Integration Dysfunction Symptoms:

Signs Of Tactile Dysfunction:
Hypersensitive:
Refuses or resists messy play, resists cuddling and light touch, dislikes kisses, rough clothes or seams in socks, resists baths, showers, or going to the beach.

Hyposensitive:
Doesn't realize hands or face are dirty, touches everything and anything constantly, may be self-abusive, plays rough with peers, doesn't seem to feel pain (may even enjoy it!)

Signs Of Vestibular Dysfunction:
Hypersensitive:
Avoids playground and moving equipment, fearful of heights, dislikes being tipped upside down, often afraid of falling, walking on uneven surfaces, and avoids rapid, sudden or rotating movements. 

Hyposensitive:
Craves any possible movement experience, especially fast or spinning, never seems to sit still, is a thrill seeker, shakes leg while sitting, loves being tossed in the air, never seems to get dizzy, full of excessive energy.

Signs Of Proprioceptive Dysfunction:
Under-responsive:
Constantly jumping, crashing, and stomping, loves to be squished and bear hugs, prefers tight clothing, loves rough-housing, and may be aggressive with other children.

Over-responsive:
Difficulty understanding where body is in relation to other objects, appears clumsy, bumps into things often, moves in a stiff and/or uncoordinated way.

Difficulty Regulating Input:
Doesn't know how hard to push on an object, misjudges the weight of an object, breaks objects often and rips paper when erasing pencil marks.

Signs Of Auditory Dysfunction:
Hypersensitive:
Covers ears and startled by loud sounds, distracted by sounds not noticed by others, fearful of toilets flushing, hairdryers and/or vacuums, resists going to loud public places (even cafeteria at school).

Hyposensitive:
May not respond to verbal cues, loves loud music and making noise, may appear confused about where a sound is coming from, may say "what?" frequently.

Signs Of Oral Dysfunction:
Hypersensitive:
Picky eater with extreme food preferences and limited repertoire, may gag on textured food, difficulty with sucking, chewing, and swallowing, extremely fearful of the dentist, dislikes toothpaste and brushing teeth.

Hyposensitive:
May lick, taste or chew on inedible objects, loves intensely flavored foods, may drool excessively, frequently chews on pens, pencils, or shirt.

Signs Of Olfactory  Dysfunction:
Hypersensitive:
Bothered or nauseated by cooking, bathroom and/or perfume smells, may refuse to go places because of the way it smells, chooses foods based on smell, notices smells not normally noticed by others.

Hyposensitive:
May not notice unpleasant or noxious odors, smells everything when first introduced to it, may not be able to identify smells from scratch 'n sniff stickers.

Signs Of Visual  Dysfunction:
Hypersensitive:
Irritated by sunlight or bright lights, easily distracted by visual stimuli, avoids eye contact, may become over aroused in brightly colored rooms.

Hyposensitive:
Difficulty controlling eye movements and tracking objects, mixes up similar letters, focuses on little details in a picture and misses the whole, looses his place frequently when reading or copying from the blackboard.

For more infomation please visit -

www.sensory-processing-disorder.com