We are so thrilled that Jen and Jerika Bolen of Wisconsin have decided to Unite For The Cure! Welcome aboard guys!
Why are Jen and Jerika uniting for the cure?
Jerika was born a healthy baby girl on December 21, 2001. As a single mom from day one, Jen had her challenges — but never had she experienced a love like the love that she has for her only child — the child Jen lives each and every day for! Little did she know that 8 months later she would be told she would lose Jerika far before she had a chance at any sort of normal life. After being diagnosed with SMA Type II, Jerika underwent a 5 hour surgery to have two different feeding tubes placed and spent her first Christmas and birthday with Santa visiting her in the hospital. That was only the beginning of Jerika’s hospital stays and surgeries and the Bolens new life facing and battling this life-threatening disease each and every day.
This past June, Jen and Jerika attended the Families of SMA conference in Cincinnati where Jen was able to get more information on Dr. Keirstead and his research. Jen is more than convinced that stem cells are the answer for SMA and that Dr. Keirstead and his team will forever change the course of this disease. Jen truly believes that there is a very real possibility that Jerika’s dream — walking with a walker — may very well come true. As her mother, Jen’s dream is that there will come a day that she can catch a cold or virus and she doesn’t have to worry that it could take her life.
Jen’s heart breaks for the dozens of children and their families they have come to know over the years that have suffered the ultimate outcome of this disease. The time has come that we put an end to the pain and the tears and rejoice in what this treatment promises—LIFE!
