2016 Carolina's Walk-n-Roll is Here

Sometimes, in the speed at which we live our lives, we forget to put information out there. This is one of those times.

Next Saturday, September 24, at 1:00PM is the 4th annual Carolina's Walk-n-Roll in support of Cure SMA. The Mastin family has been an active participant in planning, organizing, and fundraising for this event since it's inception. It will take place at Anderson Point Park near Knightdale.

So far, the campaign is a little over halfway towards its fundraising goal of $15,000. Let's see if Ollie's Team can help close that gap!

Thank you to friends, family and strangers that have supported us and the fight against this crippling disease for the last 9 years. More has been accomplished in the last decade of research than the previous 50 years combined. Several promising treatments are in trial as I type this. Treatments that could help slow or, in some cases, partially reverse SMA damage.

SMA has been described as "ALS in babies" and while the disease mechanism is different, the results are the same and just as terrible.

You can help out by donating to Ollie's team or by joining the team and creating your own team to further recruit. We can always use more walkers to fill the event out, but your donations are what helps drive the further development of a cure and support for SMA kids, adults and their families.

Donate to or Join Ollie's Team

Visit the event web site

Thank You so much for your love and support!

Another Birthday Reflection - 8 Years On

The old blog has gotten a bit dusty over the last few years. Life tends to catch up with you, and when you are chasing twins around, time seems to slip from your grasp with terrifying ease.

Looking back over the last couple of years, posts are mostly centered around Oliver's birthday or the SMA walk. We are OK with that. In many ways, it means that our lives are "normal". The 2 and 1/2 years of insanity that encompassed Ollie's birth in August 2008 through Spring 2011 when Isaak was free of all IV and G-tubes was quite enough for one family.

August is always a bittersweet month. We celebrate Ollie's life yet also must mourn his passing. In some ways it is so appropriate that August is SMA Awareness Month, but it doesn't make it easier.

This August is even more bittersweet than usual. As many know, Bekka lost her father in May. He had battled lupus for 20 years and cancer for the last year. His birthday is August 29.

If there was a way to just skip August, I think some years we would choose to do just that. Since we can't, we will give Ollie's little sister and little brother extra squeezes and we will remember a little guy that brought joy, laughter, tears and reflection to many lives.

Happy Birthday Jakob Oliver Mastin. It would have been great to know the 8 year old you.

We Celebrated Each Month's Birthday
Click here for just a few of cutest pictures I could find of Ollie's time with us.