1.   Sharon Mace, from Chinnor in Oxfordshire, has spinal atrophy.

2.   Jack, the baby son of Ann and Albert Freedman, is dying of spinal muscular atrophy, a disease caused by an inherited gene.

3.   Jeremy Bray of Manitoba, Canada has spinal muscular atrophy, but has always wanted to be a Texas Cowboy.

4.   Landre, from Howell, N.J., said her daughter suffers spinal muscular atrophy, a crippling disease of the spinal cord.

5.   Last year his researchers identified the genetic abnormality that causes spinal muscular atrophy, making possible a prenatal genetic screening for couples with a family history of the disease.

6.   Ms. Theriault has a condition called spinal muscular atrophy.

7.   Nosek, who has spinal muscular atrophy and uses a wheelchair, employs three personal attendants, one of whom accompanies her to work.