An Oklahoma family is ready for the fight of their lives after a rare diagnosis. 

Madison and Trent Cantrell’s 4-month-old has been in the hospital for a month. He was finally diagnosed with SMARD 1 this week. 

The condition is so rare there is only one place they can go for treatment in the country. 

“Please help our son. Like, we don’t have a lot of choices.” Trent Cantrell said. “Yeah, it’s literally the only option. So that’s why we’re pushing so hard,” Madison Cantrell said. 

SMARD 1 stands for Spinal Muscular Atrophy with respiratory distress.

“It’s ALS for children. It’s what they call it,” Madison said.

The genetic condition slowly degenerates the spinal cord and muscles.

“Every second matters, literally with this type of disease,” Madison said.

According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases, only 60 cases have been written about in scientific literature since 2015.

There’s a clinical trial at Nationwide Children’s in Columbus that the Cantrell’s want to get into. 

“There’s several doctors that are on with the clinical trial that we’re reaching out to and trying. He’s healthy like he’s not far off from being a normal child like he’s just got some breathing issues and like he can still be saved,” Trent said.

The couple says the trial doesn’t want a child that’s already 4 months old but they aren’t giving up. 

“This gene therapy could just halt the progression and he can live a normal happy life,” Madison said.

So the Cantrell’s are posting to social media and speaking up about their son’s condition. 

“What we really need is support and push,” Madison said.

They hope making some noise and rallying support could help them. 

“I’m going to fight for my little baby. Because I’m his voice or his voice.” Madison said.

Earlier this week, former Oklahoma State standout Morgan Hoffmann made his return to the Sooner State.

After dealing with muscular dystrophy for the past several years, Hoffmann is on the course once again, competing in the Compliance Solutions Championship at the Jimmy Austin Golf Club in Norman, OK.

The event is part of the Korn Ferry Tour, a professional tour sanctioned by the Professional Golf Association comprised of golfers who have not reached the PGA Tour or who have not performed well enough to remain on the PGA Tour.

After being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 2017, Hoffmann said he felt frustrated, especially when doctors told him there was nothing they could do to fix his ailment. Instead of accepting the bad news, however, the Ringwood, NJ, product sought alternative opinions.

According to an interview with Holden Krusemark of KFOR, Hoffmann traveled to Costa Rica to try plant medicine.

“I think anyone in this position would’ve done the same, especially as an athlete,” Hoffmann told Krusemark. “I mean, I’m not back where I want to be yet. I want to be on the PGA Tour and to be on the caliber of a player that I once was, and I’m still in the middle of it. It’s the beginning of a long journey.”

With Saturday and Sunday still left to play in the Compliance Solutions Championship, Hoffmann sits tied for 38th place at six under par.

Hoffman played golf at Oklahoma State from 2008-2011, earning GCAA Second Team All-American honors as a sophomore and GCAA First Team All-American honors as a true freshman.

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KSWO) – LA28, the plan behind the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles announced an update to the master plan for venues including two events moving to OKC.

According to the Olympics website, Oklahoma City will play host to softball and canoe slalom attributed to what the committee describes as “world-class venues.”

The Olympics website states:

Both the existing canoe slalom and softball stadiums in Oklahoma City are built to international competition standards, and the local community has consistently supported top tournaments for both sports, ensuring a high-quality experience for both athletes and fans, while allowing LA28 to achieve cost savings and revenue gains to support its balanced budget.

Currently, Oklahoma is the only state outside of California to host events in the 2028 games.

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