Limelight proudly supports Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

By Liane Caruso

In 2009, my life was changed forever. It was a big year…my first son was born, I quit my corporate job to venture off on my own and start my own business, and I met Andy Butler.

Andy was born in January of 2009 to his parents Audra and Alan. As with any new parents, they were overcome with joy at the birth of their first son with big dreams and hopes for a lifetime of love,  joy and happiness. He was healthy at birth, but within weeks, their hopeful dreams were shattered as Andy was soon diagnosed with the most severe type of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Type 1, a debilitating disease and the #1 genetic killer of children under the age of two. Audra’s words: “It’s every parents worst nightmare.”

Needless to say, at 20 weeks, Andy took his last breath after a valiant fight. At such a young age, he touched a lot of lives and he will most certainly never be forgotten. His parents showed unimaginable strength in a battle they knew they were going to lose…but they carried on, for Andy. Now, with Andy watching from above, they continue the fight in Andy’s honor, with the hopes that other families don’t have to suffer a loss like theirs.

Just prior to Andy’s death, my son was born in April. And with such life-changing events going on around me, I realized that life is far too short to not live out your passion. It was Andy, and the strength of the Butler family, that gave me the courage to take an enormous leap of faith and start Limelight. The day I made the decision, a dragonfly landed on my shoulder and I knew that Andy was giving me the encouragement I needed to move on.

This story isn’t meant for sadness, but to introduce you to a cause that is near and dear to our hearts both personally and here at Limelight. I’m happy to say that Andy has a beautiful and healthy little one-year old sister, Lucy. She will always have a strong big brother watching over her.

We proudly sponsor and donate whatever we can for FSMA, the Greater Florida Chapter, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Butler family in Andy’s Army. On November 19, we will be walking in the 3rd Annual Walk N Roll at Ft. DeSoto Park. Each year, we donate our time and talents to create a brochure and t-shirts for the event. If we can help raise awareness and touch just one life like the Butler family changed mine, then it’s the very least we could do.
For more information about Andy Butler and his touching story, go to www.andysarmy.com.

To donate or walk in the FSMA Walk N Roll event on November 19, please click here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I encourage you to support causes that are meaningful to you and can help make a difference. Below is the collateral we’ve designed for FSMA Walk N Roll efforts in 2010 and 2011! Just click on the images to see them full size.