florida | SMAHeadlines.com

Spinal muscular atrophy: Meet a toddler who suffers

February 16, 2011

Spinal muscular atrophy: Meet a toddler who suffers

WTSB | February 16, 2011 | By Stefanie Fogel

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Tampa, Florida – Each and every morning a strict regiment is played out and it’s never easy for Shirley and Joe Cuadrado. Their grandson Christian is a small frail little boy who can’t do for himself.

Shirley Cuadrado, “I’ve become a radical grandmother on a mission to get a cure.”

Christian suffers from a disease called spinal muscular atrophy, otherwise known as SMA. It’s an extremely rare disease that affects 1 in 24,000 babies. It causes muscles to deteriorate and can lead to severe respiratory problems, among many other afflictions.

Click HERE or on the image below to read more…

Leave a Comment » | Awareness, Florida, United States | Tagged: awareness, florida, united states | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

Couple designs apartments for the disabled

January 26, 2011

Couple designs apartments for the disabled

The Miami Herald | January 26, 2011 | By Laura Isensee

In his Quickie P200 electronic wheelchair, Pedro Rodriguez recently whizzed along East Third Street in Hialeah. Just ahead, his wife Angie rolled along in her 1113 Jazzie.

They quickly reached their destination: a complex with 18 wheelchair-friendly apartments with roll-in showers, specially designed kitchens and extra-wide hallways.

The couple has made it their life’s work to assist others with physical disabilities through their 25-year-old nonprofit. The new complex is their latest effort.

In February, their nonprofit, Spinal Cord Living-Assistance Development Inc., will debut the building, called SCLAD Plaza, at 201 E. Second St. It will offer housing that is both affordable and accessible to low-income, disabled residents.

“We want people with disabilities to live in their own communities,” explained Angie Rodriguez, 58. “Accessibility in the home — we consider that to be No. 1. If you can’t get into your bathroom, if you can’t move around in your kitchen, you are tied. You don’t have freedom.”

Apartments like the ones at SCLAD Plaza are precious.

Click HERE or on the image below to read more…

Leave a Comment » | Florida, United States | Tagged: florida, united states | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

John Bell and Patterson Hood Share Stage at Hannah’s Buddies Benefit

January 24, 2011

John Bell and Patterson Hood Share Stage at Hannah’s Buddies Benefit

Jambands.com | January 24, 2011

The 12th Annual Hannah’s Buddies benefit, which raises money for spinal muscular atrophy research, took place over the weekend at the Grand Cypress Golf Club and The House of Blues in Orlando, FL. Saturday saw the event’s host John Bell introduce Hannah for whom the event is named, before performing a set that focused on material from the Widespread Panic catalog, such as “Let’s Get the Show On the Road,” “Mercy,” and “Dirty Side Down.” Towards the end of the set, Bell brought out Buck Williams, Widespread Panic’s longtime booking agent and co-manager, who added harmonica to Neil Young’s “From Hank to Hendrix.” Bell’s set concluded with the Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood joining in for “Smokestack Lightning” and “End of the Show.” Bell also appeared with Hood’s group on a version of Alice Cooper’s “I’m Eighteen.”

Leave a Comment » | Florida, Fundraiser, Hannah's Buddies, United States | Tagged: florida, fundraiser, Hannah's Buddies, united states | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

John Bell Offers Hannah’s Buddies Update

January 6, 2011

John Bell Offers Hannah’s Buddies Update

Jambands.com | January 6, 2011

The 12th Annual Hannah’s Buddies benefit will take place on January 21 and 22 at the Grand Cypress Golf Club and The House of Blues in Orlando, FL . Friday the 21st will feature a golf tournament followed by an awards reception and then a performance by Galactic and the Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio. Saturday the 22nd will offer a dinner and silent auction followed by music from John Bell & Friends, the Drive-By Truckers, and Nickel and the Polar Bears. The event raises money for spinal muscular atrophy research.

Bell has offered the following update on the event, including a link that offers a glimpse at some of the auction items:

Click HERE or on the image below to read more…

Leave a Comment » | Florida, Fundraiser, Hannah's Buddies, United States | Tagged: florida, fundraiser, Hannah's Buddies, united states | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

Cardinal Mooney Donates More Than 900 Toys

December 19, 2010

Cardinal Mooney Donates More Than 900 Toys

SarasotaPatch | December 19, 2010 | By William Mansell

For Christmas, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School students donated new toys for Andrew’s Toy Box, a school press release said. Over the course of a few weeks, the students brought in more than 900 toys. The toys will be delivered to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg and to hospitals in Sarasota and Manatee counties, the release said.

Andrew’s Toy Box is a non-profit organization that helps children who are in hospitals with life-threatening or chronic illnesses by providing care packages of toys, craft projects and books. Andrew’s Toy Box was started by the parents of a young boy named Andrew Fimble, who died at the age of six months of spinal muscular atrophy.

Click HERE or on the image below to read more…