Mama Bracelets Making a Difference for Families of SMA

Naperville, IL, October 06, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Mama Bracelets, LLC, (www.mamabracelets.com) is an online bracelet/necklace company started in October of 2010 by Naperville, IL residents Michael & Lindsay Casten. The initial concept behind Mama Bracelets was born out of a need Lindsay saw for mothers, who were nursing their children, to have a way to remember which side to start on with their next feeding. She created “simply stylish” nursing bracelets that incorporated birthstones and options for personalization.

As the company gathered more and more customers, the ideas and creativity of the Castens grew as well. Along the way, they began designing bracelets and necklaces to help legitimate causes. In the short time that they have been in business, Mama Bracelets has provided support for research efforts for such causes as Rett Syndrome, SIDS, Autism, and Lung Cancer.

In September of 2011, in response to the devastating news that their youngest child (born in June of 2010) had been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, the Castens decided to design a bracelet collection that would benefit research efforts for treatments and a cure for this terminal disease. After weeks of designing and many prototypes, the Mama Bracelets “Cure SMA” Awareness Bracelet Collection was launched.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a progressive, degenerative, neuromuscular disease that causes the death of motor neurons; primarily in the legs, arms, trunk, and respiratory muscles. The loss of function in these areas and the resulting atrophy of the muscles, renders its victims unable to move and in many cases, unable to eat or breath sufficiently.

There are four types of SMA classifications, each having the age of onset a determining factor for categorization and each having its own prognosis.

*Type 1: Age of onset from birth to 6 months. Prognosis: Typically no more than 3 years.
*Type 2: Age of onset from 6-18 months. Prognosis: Typically early childhood to early adulthood.
*Type 3: Age of onset from 18 months to early adulthood. Prognosis: A normal lifespan can be expected with proper care.
*Type 4: Age of onset is adulthood. Prognosis: Normal life span can be expected.
*Each person affected by SMA is different and prognosis can vary depending on severity of symptom presentations.

“We are so grateful to the community that Families of SMA (FSMA) has developed over the years, the research that they support, and the resources they provide,” say the Castens, “we had no doubt in our minds that our ‘donation destination’ with the ‘Cure SMA’ bracelet collection would be FSMA (www.fsma.org). The response thus far has been so encouraging and we hope to have more of the same… for our sweet little girl as well as for the many thousands stricken with this debilitating and fatal disease.”

To date, Mama Bracelets has raised over $500 for FSMA. Each time an order is placed the donation is completed as soon as the funds are available from the purchaser (Mama Bracelets accepts credit cards via PayPal and Google Checkout, PayPal payments, and personal checks). Notification of the donation (which is 30% of every “Cure SMA” sold) is sent directly to the purchaser with confirmation documentation. From there, Lindsay (owner of Mama Bracelets) creates the bracelet(s) by hand. Her expertise and attention to detail make all of her products of the highest quality and are made with love. She hand-stamps each individual letter as per each request. The bracelets are usually in the hands of the purchaser within 1-2 weeks of making the order. Mama Bracelets provides delivery tracking codes and optional insurance as well… they follow-up with each customer within 2-3 weeks of shipping out their order.

“Knowing that researchers are so very close to finding treatments and a cure for SMA is what keeps us going,” explains Casten, “this is our chance to help them, help others, and help our daughter.”

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