SMA AWARENESS 2016 - Day 3

I really like the pic below representing how someone ends up with SMA. It's simple genetics really. Think back to your high school biology class. "In sheep white is due to a dominant gene (W), black to its recessive allele (w). A white ewe mated to a white ram produces a black lamb. If they produce another offspring, could it be white? If so, what are the chances of it being white?" That kind of stuff. 

 

So of all the recessive genes Colby could have gotten, he got the SMA gene from both of us. Shaking my head. I think the scariest part is that 1 IN 40 PEOPLE IS A CARRIER OF THE SMA GENE! Think about that next time you're in a crowd. We had no idea we were carriers. We had never heard of SMA. No babies on either side of the family died or presented symptoms of SMA. It was total shock when we received Colby's diagnosis. And you hear this same story over and over again. That's why I think it's so important to educate, or spread the word, or bring about awareness or whatever you want to call it. There you go, you've been educated today. You're welcome.