Lerner feels like “raising money for this isn’t blind drops in a bucket. We’re really close to doing something concrete.” Lerner said that researchers are very close to producing a drug that produces the protein (SMN-2) missing in bodies of those with SMA. “I’ve met the people doing the research and I’ve seen what they’re going to be using it for. I know how much of difference it can make for so many people,” he explained.
Anyone who wants to vote for the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation should go to the GSF voting page. First become a “fan” and then cast your vote. It takes 30 seconds, doesn’t cost anything, and you’ll know you’re doing something good for a lot people. Fans can also help out by spreading the word, both about the competition and to raise awareness of the disease in any way they can: Twitter, Facebook, word of mouth. “What’s nice about this project is that no one has to ask for money — just a couple of clicks and a vote. My request is just for everyone to spread the word in whatever way they can for the next day.” [The competition ends at 11:59 p.m. Friday night, January 22.]
Of course I could not let Lerner get off the phone without asking him if he can tell me anything about what’s in store for the series. He and Russel Friend have written the episode coming up February 1 (“Moving the Chains”), which guest stars Orlando Jones as Foreman’s brother. “We’re currently working on the season finale,” he told me. “We also co-wrote the episode with Peter Blake and Eli Attie filming now — the one that Hugh Laurie’s directing.” It’s episode 17, guest starring David Strathairn in what Lerner promised would be “an incredible episode.”
The next episode of House (“Remorse”) airs Monday, January 25 at 8 p.m. ET. Good luck to Hugh Laurie who’s nominated in the Best Actor category for a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award. The SAG awards air Saturday night on TNT 8 p.m. ET.
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Article comments
1 - Brandy D Shifflett
Thanks so much for spreading the word about SMA! I also have a very special child with SMA and had never heard about it until it affected us. My daughter Emma was 16 months old when we entered the SMA life. She's now going on six and I hope more than anything that there's a cure in her lifetime! I also really feel that more people need to be educated on this condition! Together we will find a cure!
Thanks,
Brandy D Shifflett
Visit Emma
2 - barbara barnett
Thanks for sharing that, Brandy. This clinical trial Garrett was talking about looks promising for so many.
3 - Orange450
Thanks to you for raising awareness, and thanks to Garrett Lerner for sharing his family's struggles and triumphs. It's heartening to hear that a real breakthrough could be so close. From the bottom of my heart I hope that Zeke and all the others affected by SMA will soon see a cure on the horizon. "Speedily, and in our day" as they say.
When I think of the ordeal that Lerner and his wife went through when Zeke was a baby, their road to diagnosis, and the daily challenges that the whole family has to face, I really have the urge to tell House that normal isn't overrated at all.
4 - hiyacinth1
Thankyou for posting the interview. I voted, my sister is severly dissabled with M.S. only yesterday in the press there was talk of a new drug, research like that has to be paid for, i hope the foundation win the money to help research into this terrible disease and help these wonderful children.
5 - Brenda
Thank you for bringing this subject to light. Having a 5 year old, something like this really hits close to home. I can't imagine what the children and their families must endure on a daily basis.
Here's hoping for a cure to this debilitating disease.
6 - Smtinsley
Thank you so much for raising awareness of SMA! I have two beautiful daughters with SMA type 2... our story is very similar to Zeke. We can't wait for a cure.
7 - tricia
I have never used facebook before. I created a user name, but have no clue how to vote. As the mother of an autstic child, I know how helpless you can feel at one moment and how blessed that special child can make you feel the next.
8 - Beth Pence
Thank you for your article letting people know about the devastating disease, sma. My grandson was diagnosed at 7 months old and like most I had never heard of this disease, the #1 genetic killer of children. My grandson has never been able to sit, roll over or crawl so he is in the Stage 1 category. It breaks my heart knowing what could lie in store for him if they don't get the funding to find a cure.
9 - barbara barnett
Tricia go to voteforsma click on "become a fan" and then vote.
Thanks everyone for your kind words about this column. I can think of no better way to use the power of the blogosphere and the media. I just found out this morning that my son-in-law's mother (a chemist) one of the scientists working on this disease.
10 - Delia_Beatrice
Good luck to Zeke and all the other children affected by this disease or any other!
Good luck to all of you who had the strength to share your stories here, i hope with all my heart that cures will be found and miracles will be possible for all these wonderful children!
I myself was blessed with a overall healthy child, but still, his relatively minor health problems made me feel panic and pain and despair none the less. I also helped raise my 17 years-younger sister, who was born with cleft lip and palate and, even if her life is within "normal" outlines, there were and still are difficult times and i do know how it feels when you don't have the power to really help a dear, helpless child who suffers.
So, good luck to you all, may these children's lives be better, longer and healthier!
11 - barbara barnett
Good Luck for the final six hours of the voting: help find the cure. Thanks to all for sharing stories of their own struggles and hopes for a cure!
12 - barbara barnett
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read about this disease and voting in the Chase Community Giving project. Gwendolyn Strong Foundation was one of the top vote-getting charities and won $100,000 for research, bringing them ever so much closer to a cure. Much thanks are due to House E.P/writer Garrett Lerner and the Twitter King himself Greg Yaitanes.
13 - Debbie J
I am sorry I didn't read this article any sooner and that I missed the deadline to vote. I am glad they won $100,000 for their research.
Here's hoping that the research dollars help with finding a cure in Zeke's - and others like him - lifetime.
Barbara, did you mention how old Zeke is now?
14 - barbara barnett
Zeke is nine, I believe.