Joshua's Room

 

This is Joshua and he has a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). SMA is the number one genetic killer of children under the age of two, and is a group of inherited and often fatal diseases that destroys the nerves controlling voluntary muscle movement, which affects crawling, walking, head and neck control, and even swallowing. SMA is fairly common affecting one in every 6,000 babies born. Of children diagnosed before age two, 50 percent will die before their second birthday. Fortunately, SMA does not affect sensation and intellectual activity in patients and patients with SMA are unusually bright and sociable.

To tell you a little bit about Joshua. He is eight years old and has been dreaming of appearing on Trading Spaces for a while now. I went to his house to meet him and when I asked if I could see his room the first thing he told me was about his wish to be on Trading Spaces. He proceeded to tell me he wanted a space room because he loves to look at stars and planets through his neighbors telescope. He also mentioned wanting a rocket ship for a bed. So a space room is the theme.