Dear Friends and Family,

As you all know by now, we have been educating ourselves about Spina Bifida ever since Sophie was diagnosed with this disease at birth. The reason she's doing so incredibly well, is because we've had help and support from all the wonderful people at the Spina Bifida Association of Georgia. They have guided us, along with some of the best specialists in the world.

Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect, the most complex birth defect compatible with life, and it's preventable by educating young women about the importance of taking a vitamin supplement of 400mg of folic acid daily prior to conception and during the first three months of pregnancy.

But we need help!!
The US government has allocated as much as $200M to fight the remaining 10,000 cases of Polio OUTSIDE THE USA, but they have given the Spina Bifida Association IN THE USA only $5M.

So Nikki and I are asking you to donate money and/or items to be auctioned off at our first annual Fund Raising Event on September 19th here in Atlanta. We are hoping to auction off signed baseball bats, basketball/football jerseys, signed posters/pictures, tennis rackets, or any other items you might think of.

Spina Bifida affects over 3,000 babies a year, and we must do everything we can to help combat this spine and brain damaging disease.

Please send all items to:

SPINA BIFIDA ASSOCIATION OF GA
1448 Mc Lendon Dr
Suite B
Decatur, GA. 30033

Thank you guys so much for your help.

Lots of love.
Nikki and Boris

Background on Spina Bifida

65 million women of child-bearing age are at risk of having a baby born with Spina Bifida. Everyday, an average of eight babies are affected by Spina Bifida or a similar birth defect of the brain and spine. Each year, about 3,000 pregnancies are affected by these birth defects. Currently an estimated 70,000 people in the United States are living with Spina Bifida; in Georgia, there are estimated to be 1,800 children and adults with Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect – the most complex birth defect compatible with life – AND it is preventable.

The risk of having a baby born with Spina Bifida can be reduced by as much as 70% – by taking a vitamin supplement of 400 mcg of folic acid daily prior to conception and during the first three months of pregnancy.

In a report released by the Centers for Disease Contol and Prevention (CDC) on January 4, 2007, levels of folic acid (folate levels shown in patients’ blood) in non-pregnant women of child-bearing age has dropped significantly (1999-2004). This data indicates that Spina Bifida births can be expected to rise in the future; most at risk are lower income, medically underserved women. This call to action goes well beyond the health and welfare of people in Georgia. In addition to affecting issues of quality of life, accessibility and inclusion, the lifelong costs of a person with Spina Bifida are insurmountable to most families.