A true story of miracles and divine interventions. Michael Shane Oltmans received a death diagnosis at the tender age of 8 weeks old. According to all the medical literature, babies with the most severe form of spinal muscular atrophy type I, also called Werdnig Hoffman syndrome, never survive the age of 2 years old. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic malady that causes muscle weakness. The most severe form of SMA results in the inability to move any of the body's muscles properly. Over time, the muscles that control swallowing, breathing, and speaking are also weakened, and high tech machines must be used to enable those stricken to breathe, eat, and talk. Throughout Shane's life, circumstances worked to his advantage to help him thrive and survive. With a great deal of courage and a wonderful sense of humor, he overcame many obstacles to beat the odds and live to adulthood. "Author Lisa Oltmans writes with conviction and certainly knows a lot about spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) - a veritable death sentence for her son Shane, who defied the odds and lived until young adulthood. She also exhibits enough faith for a small army. Of her son's passing, she writes, 'I lived for 22 years 1 month and 2 days with a person full of light' one of many examples of her a glass half full approach to a devastating situation. Yet she neither sugarcoats her circumstances nor condescends to the reader. Instead she offers a step-by-step line of attack against and practical suggestions for dealing with a disease that weakens all the voluntary muscle systems by robbing the body of its ability to eat, breathe and move. This book will be especially useful for people dealing with a loved one with any debilitating disease. And those who prefer to avoid the subject entirely might do well to read it as well, if only to appreciate what they do have and take a note from this author's approach to life's challenges." - Judge, 3rd Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published eBook Awards
| Author: Lisa S. Oltmans |
| Publisher: Lmd Corp |
| Publication Date: Mar 14, 2016 |
| Number of Pages: 192 pages |
| Language: English |
| Binding: Paperback |
| ISBN-10: 0692669345 |
| ISBN-13: 9780692669341 |
