When we found out we were pregnant with our second baby, we knew there was a possibility he could have SMA Type 1 — the same diagnosis as Eiley. We went into this pregnancy aware of the odds, prepared for the reality, but still hoping and praying for a different outcome.

Even knowing it was possible didn’t soften the blow.

When we got the confirmation, it still felt like a punch to the gut.

There’s something about hearing it out loud — about seeing it attached to your child — that takes your breath away for a moment. We allowed ourselves to feel that. The sadness. The fear. The anger. The weight of it all.

But this time, we are walking forward differently.

This pregnancy looks different because we are different. We are more informed. More experienced. More prepared. We know the road. We know the questions to ask. And we were ready to advocate fiercely for our little man from the very beginning.

One of the biggest differences this time is that I began taking Evrysdi at 28 weeks pregnant — the same medication Eiley takes daily. This is part of a new prenatal case study, and I am only the 10th mom in the world to participate!

So far, the results have been incredible with the possibility of NO signs of SMA.

We had to fight to make this happen. There were conversations, waiting, advocating, and pushing. To accept “no” was not an option, so we kept going. Because if there was even a chance to give our son a stronger start, we were going to take it.

We are hopeful. We know nothing is guaranteed, but this hope comes from everything we’ve done, everything we’re fighting for, and all the love we already have for our little man. 💙