THURSDAY
DECEMBER 21, 2017
HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY HOLIDAY Closed Dec. 23 Highway 15 North, Smiths Falls • 613-283-1880
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Christmas miracle for local family
Merry Christmas to you and your family www.burnsjewellers.com
By Laurie Weir
66 Foster Street, Perth • 613-267-4466 115 Bridge Street, Carleton Place
ljweir@metroland.com
Eddie and Jenna Stewart were hoping for a Christmas miracle … and they got one this week. On Monday, Dec. 18, after battling back and forth with their insurance company for months, they received word that their son, Mason, now eight years old, has qualified for a previously-denied drug, Spinraza. Mason has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and the family has been fighting for his life since he was diagnosed with Type 3 SMA in 2011. Spinraza could help slow, if not stop the disease in its tracks. The Lanark County family, who operates Little Rock Farm just outside Smiths Falls, has hosted events for SMA throughout Mason’s young life. Jenna is also on the Cure SMA Canada board of directors. They have a younger son, Casey, just under a year of age. He was tested and does not have SMA. “Mason is desperate for Spinraza,” Jenna said in a heartbreaking Facebook post earlier this week. If you have been following this family’s journey, Mason’s story may be familiar to you. “We have been in a big struggle with our insurance company … There is an advocate group called SMA 360 and they See MIRACLE page SF4
Smiths Falls helps build that mountain Evelyn Harford/Metroland
Brothers Phoenix, 5, and Lucius, 6, along with their mother, Agi Loney, donate food to the Lanark County Paramedic food drive, as part of the annual Hinton Auto Group Build a Mountain of Food campaign outside of Andress’ Your Independent Grocer in Smiths Falls on Saturday, Dec. 16. Paramedics were on hand outside the grocery store to collect donations as part of their weekend roll through Lanark County. See page 2 for this week’s Build a Mountain of Food story and more photos. *
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MERRIEST OF CHRISTMAS WISHES…TO YOU AND YOURS www.hintondodge.ca 1 mile East of Perth on Hwy 7, 613-267-2300
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2018!
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