SHANGRALA'S

RICOCHET AND KIDS WITH SMA!

      Surf dog Ricochet helps brighten the lives of children who can't walk, eat or breath on their own! Tracheostomies and breathing tubes don't stop these kids from having the day of thier lives with their canine friend.

    Here's Heartwarming Photos Of Their Day. Enjoy! :)
Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Surf Dog Ricochet and kids with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) caught waves during the 4th annual "Surf Away SMA With Ricochet" event.

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      SMA is a disease that robs individuals of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, taking away the ability to hold their head up, stand, sit, crawl, walk, swallow food effectively, or breathe. The diagnosis comes with words no parent ever wants to hear - "No treatment, no cure."

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Some kids like Bailey, have a tracheostomy, a surgically created opening into the trachea that provides breathing assistance via a permanent ventilator. Bailey has Type I SMA - the most severe and the most common.

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Other kids have Type II SMA. these kids can typically sit up without help, though they may need assistance getting into a seated position, but they are unable to walk and will require a wheelchair.
      Lauren here has Type III SMA. Individuals affected by this type are initially able to walk, but have increasingly limited mobility as they grow and eventually, many need to use a wheelchair.

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Although these kids have difficulty performing the basic functions of life, SMA does not affect their ability to think, learn, have hopes and dreams or... surf with their best canine friend, Ricochet!

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Ricochet takes her job very seriously. Here she First checks in with the baby to make sure he's ok. Check...

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Then she checks in with her water team to make sure everything is in order. Check...

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Everything checked out OK, Let's rock and roll ... Lets Surf!

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      A bath chair was attached to the surfboard to keep water from getting on the kids.




Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Having children who are profoundly disabled takes the utmost expertise of the water safety team. Getting water into the opening of a tracheostomy could cause aspiration pneumonia. With this in mind, the board was picked up going in and out of the water, as well as each time a wave came close.

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      The board was kept in shallow water, and when the crew was ready, the team leader held onto the back of the board and walked it to shore. The rest of the team surrounded them to ensure safety.

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Children who aren't as severely disabled were able to go without the chair, but safety was still the number one priority, so a skilled and experienced surfer was on board.

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      The water team is always on the ready to prevent a wipe out.

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Once the surfer gains enough confidence, they're ready to go without Ricochet. However, Ricochet continued to feel responsible for Lauren. She refused to leave the beach until Lauren was out of the water, and in front of her.

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      The surf session also celebrated a new drug called Spinraza that was recently approved to treat this debilitating and terminal disease. Significant improvement has been seen in the survival of infants. It has also improved motor function in some children, helping them sit, stand and even walk.

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      For a child with SMA, going from a chair full of gear to a surfboard full of cheer gives both the child and the parents the opportunity to do something they never thought possible.

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Thanks to Ricochet, and an incredible team of skilled volunteers, the kids got a thrill of a lifetime, as you can see by a thumb's up, and beaming smile from Gia!

Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
      Please get on board, and join Ricochet in raising awareness of SMA by sharing this uplifting story of children who have a spirit much stronger than the body that houses it. Thanks for your support.




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Shangrala's Movie Star Ricohet
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