Zachary Thomas Winkle was born April 6, 1998, to Stan and Mary Winkle. Mary had an "easy" pregnancy and delivery and Zack was born absolutely beautiful. All of the usual "baby happenings" began. Mom and Dad learning how to care for this new addition filled their life for the first month or two. During that time Zack had trouble nursing. Mom and Dad got some help and finally resorted to the bottle using preemie nipples.

Zack was a pleasure. A "good" baby. Hardly cried very mellow and no trouble. But this all seemed too easy. Grandma Englert (Mary’s Mom and a registered nurse) had a sense that something was not right. Time went by, Stan and Mary started the process of seeing doctors to determine why Zack did not seem to respond as they expected. He was not holding his head up, his arms did not have the strength they should. A general feeling that something was "wrong" worried the family. After trips to the doctor it was tentatively determined that Zack had SMA. A type of muscular dystrophy that usually results in death by the age of 1 year.

A sample of Zachary's blood was sent to Baylor University to do a DNA test to confirm SMA. About a week later Zachary had a bad spell that required him to be admitted to St. Louis Children's Hospital. The DNA test came back negative for SMA. Surgery was done to get muscle tissue for a biopsy and Congenital Muscular Dystrophy with merosin negative was confirmed. Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm).

There is not a lot known about this type of muscular dystrophy. The tenacious family that Zack belongs to, hopes to bring together other children that are afflicted, to share, learn and help Zack and his family. We know in return Zack will bring us love, direction and purpose.