Sunday, August 5, 2018

10 Years Since a Special Little Boy was Born

10 years ago today, Jakob Oliver Mastin came into the world after a 30+ hour battle. One that eventually came down to a c-section as he just wasn't coming out any other way. He seemed so perfect, and we'd never even heard of SMA! We both still have so many memories of those early days in the hospital and at home with the little guy.

His first sink bath

10.

Years.

It honestly doesn't even seem real sometimes. All the struggles and all the challenges through his 363 days of life...sometimes memories are a blur, sometimes crystalline in their focus.

10 years later, we still miss Ollie, but we have his brother and sister running around like crazy people to keep us busy and moving forward. Penny and Isaak know his story, and every once in awhile, they'll ask questions or make a comment about him that makes us pause and get a little teardrop rolling down our cheeks.

Last year, we were emotionally and mentally exhausted and weren't quite up to the Walk-and-Roll. This year, we've decided to go for a massive, if unlikely goal: $10,000 for Ollie's Team!

Can we do it? We hope so. If 500 people donate $20 - boom, goal met! If you feel like you can pass this little article around, please do. We'd love to be able to make a big symbolic gesture for little guys 10th year. There are still a lot of SMA kids out there that need our support and our help. If you can actually come walk, that would be extra cool, but just being there in thought means a lot.

Major progress with drug trials such as Spinraza are providing new hope for SMA patients and their caregivers - but there is a long way to go and those treatments are expensive.

If you feel led to donate:

Ollies's Team Page for the September 29, 2018 Walk-and-Roll can be found here:

More information on SMA Awareness Month Here:

Thank you all for the love and support over the years. Between Oliver and the rough entry of Penelope and Isaak into the world, we never would have made it without our friends and family around the world.

Thanks for sharing our journey.

Neil, Bekka, Penny and Isaak