Surf dog Ricochet helps brighten the lives of children who can't walk, eat or
breath on their own! Tracheostomies and breathing tubes don't stop these kids
from having the day of thier lives with their canine friend.
Here's Heartwarming Photos Of Their Day. Enjoy! :)
Surf Dog Ricochet and kids with
spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) caught waves during the 4th annual "Surf Away SMA With Ricochet" event.
SMA is a disease
that robs individuals of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in
the spinal cord, taking away the ability to hold their head up, stand, sit, crawl,
walk, swallow food effectively, or breathe. The diagnosis comes with words no
parent ever wants to hear - "No treatment, no cure."
Some kids like Bailey, have a tracheostomy, a surgically created opening into the
trachea that provides breathing assistance via a permanent ventilator. Bailey has
Type I SMA - the most severe and the most common.
Other kids have Type II SMA. these kids can typically sit up without help, though
they may need assistance getting into a seated position, but they are unable to
walk and will require a wheelchair.
Lauren here has Type III SMA. Individuals affected by this type are initially
able to walk, but have increasingly limited mobility as they grow and eventually,
many need to use a wheelchair.
Although these kids have difficulty performing the basic functions of life, SMA
does not affect their ability to think, learn, have hopes and dreams or... surf
with their best canine friend, Ricochet!
Ricochet takes her job very seriously. Here she First checks in with the baby to
make sure he's ok. Check...
Then she checks in with her water team to make sure everything is in order. Check...
Everything checked out OK, Let's rock and roll ... Lets Surf!
A bath chair was attached to the surfboard to keep water from getting on the kids.
Having children who are profoundly disabled takes the utmost expertise of the water
safety team. Getting water into the opening of a tracheostomy could cause
aspiration pneumonia. With this in mind, the board was picked up going in and out
of the water, as well as each time a wave came close.
The board was kept in shallow water, and when the crew was ready, the team leader
held onto the back of the board and walked it to shore. The rest of the team
surrounded them to ensure safety.
Children who aren't as severely disabled were able to go without the chair, but
safety was still the number one priority, so a skilled and experienced surfer
was on board.
The water team is always on the ready to prevent a wipe out.
Once the surfer gains enough confidence, they're ready to go without Ricochet.
However, Ricochet continued to feel responsible for Lauren. She refused to leave
the beach until Lauren was out of the water, and in front of her.
The surf session also celebrated a new drug called Spinraza that was recently
approved to treat this debilitating and terminal disease. Significant improvement
has been seen in the survival of infants. It has also improved motor function in
some children, helping them sit, stand and even walk.
For a child with SMA, going from a chair full of gear to a surfboard full of cheer
gives both the child and the parents the opportunity to do something they never
thought possible.
Thanks to Ricochet, and an incredible team of skilled volunteers, the kids got a
thrill of a lifetime, as you can see by a thumb's up, and beaming smile from Gia!
Please get on board, and join Ricochet in raising awareness of SMA by sharing this
uplifting story of children who have a spirit much stronger than the body that
houses it. Thanks for your support.
For those of you who Want More FUN - Visit The Shangy Fun List! Variety is the
spice of life! The Shangy Fun List is an ezine packed full of Poems, Inspirational and
Heart Warming Stories. Jokes from G to slightly R, and Anything else that just
might make you SMILE! Join In The Free FUN!! ... :)
-To SHANGRALA-
