Fresno child battles rare form of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

FRESNO Calif. (KFSN) -- The surviving country of Zaira De La Cruz's location has been turned into a makeshift infirmary room.

About 7 months aft her girl was born, Zoey was diagnosed with the James benignant of Spinal Muscular Atrophy -- uncommon and terrible neuromuscular disorder.

"They archer maine that her beingness expectancy is 2 years old. It's hard, adjacent up to adjacent close now. It's hard to similar adjacent verbalize it," explained De La Cruz. "How tin you archer maine that her beingness expectancy is short? That there's nary cure? There's thing that I tin do? That's each retired of my hands."

Zoey volition crook 2 years aged successful March.

It's each the instrumentality successful her country that gives her that other enactment to marque definite her lungs are working.

"There's nary medicine that she's taking to support strong," said De La Cruz. "This is simply a progressive illness that volition instrumentality her beingness small by small until her lung muscles volition halt moving completely."

The illness has already weakened Zoey's muscles. Her arms and legs look limp, which means Zoey volition apt beryllium incapable to walk. Zaira is besides unsure if Zoey volition beryllium capable to talk.

"Time volition archer whether oregon not she volition beryllium capable to verbalize. She tries to transcript immoderate words, and we bash recognize them," she said. "We don't cognize if she volition beryllium capable to talk."

Despite her condition, Zoey is afloat of personality. She loves to marque radical laugh.

"She's precise smart," De La Cruz shared. "So this is thing that affects her body, her muscles, but her encephalon -- I mean, it works similar immoderate different kid her age."

Zoey's information requires play appointments astatine Valley Children's successful Madera, and sometimes, visits to the exigency country necessitate months-long stays.

Her ma has acceptable up a GoFundMe to assistance amended Zoey's prime of life.

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