New to the Group

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this group and I'm hoping to learn from other in this group about

ideas, adaptations and obstacles I could face in my future. My name is , I

am from the Mt. Pleasant area (during the school year) and from the Flint area

during the summer in Michigan. I am 26 years old and was diagnosed with SMA type

3 when I was 2 1/2 years old. I am currently a senior at Central Michigan

University and hoping to graduate this coming December. I have my own apartment

here in Mt. Pleasant with two wonderful roommates. I am also engaged to a

wonderful guy Jon and have set the wedding date for March 17, 2012 (if

graduating and school stuff work out as planned). I am able to still walk but I

use an motorized wheelchair to get around campus and a manual wheelchair when I

am going long distances like the mall.

My family consist of a younger biological sister and younger biological brother,

with three step-brothers (one passed away two years ago this March of Duchene

MD) and two step- sisters. My biological siblings are both diagnosed with SMA

Type 3. My brother hasn't walked since he was 3 and my sister has become

considerably weaker, using her chair more in the last three years. My Fiance

also has a daughter from a pervious marriage (Madison, 4 in April).

Some concerns that have been on my mind recently:

1. Walking, how long will I be able to walk? Is there an age where I'll stop

walking? I am not sure there is, doctors told my mom that me and my sister

wouldn't walk past the age of 10 but it's 16 years later and I am still walking.

2. Children, Am I able to have children of my own? Will they end up with SMA

also? How would being pregnant affect my disease and health? If I could have

kids would be a natural birth or c-section? And if I did have kids how to would

I take care of them (i.e. Picking them up, getting them out of a crib, stuff

like that)? the list of concerns and questions could go on forever with this

topic, it kind of makes me sad to think that I could be told no you can't or

shouldn't have kids.

3. Relationships, How do I help my fiance help me? How do I help him to

understand things I am going through?

So that's all I can think of right at this point, I'm sure there is more or even

topics I haven't even thought of already discussed. Thanks for anyone who

comments!

Sincerely,