With modern technology today and treatments we are living longer. I use a bipap machine for sleeping to help me breathe throughout the night, pulse oximeter to keep tabs on my stats, suctioning machine to help me with my secretions, I have a mic-key button and am fed through a feeding tube. I also use a cough assist machine which my Pulmonary Doctor's think highly of. I get CPT (chest physio therapy) every 4 hours along with svn treatments, as needed. I'm waiting for a kid kart (wheelchair) and a special chair called a sweet tomato with a tray, so maybe I can play with some toys. I do my best to move my hands and arms and can even move my legs in and out. I lift my arms up in the air to be picked up and my mommy's favorite is when I lay down on my stomach and she pats me on my rump and says "wiggle" James, I then wiggle my little tush. I'm working on holding my head up for about 50 seconds now on a good day. You see, with my disease I can not sit by myself, roll over, crawl or even stand. Statistics say we are very intelligent and sensitive. My family has a sense of hope that never stops , lots of TLC, and encouragement and we just take each day as it comes. I'm the proud son of Mark and Helene Armstrong. My older brother's are Andrew (18 yrs old), Brandon (16 yrs old),Cameron (14 yrs old), and Mark Jr (12 yrs old). Remember God put me here for a reason and I could not be in better hands. Please Keep in mind that SMA has variability among individuals and affects each patient and family different. My disease is also known as The Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease. And my family knows more than ever How special I am.

James lost his fight with SMA1 and on May 20th, 2006 God gave James his wings.

In loving Memory of our Dearest Son, brother, and friend.
 James Thomas Armstrong
August 5, 2004 - May 20th, 2006.