
3rd PLACE MULTIPLE: KRISTEN ZEIS, VIRGINIAN-PILOT–Nervous about getting a sedative medication, Jackson Saville is comforted by his mom, Stacy and dad, Bill, prior to his first attempt at getting an injection of a new FDA approved drug for SMA patients called Spinraza at at ChildrenÕs Hospital of The KingÕs Daughter on Thursday, March, 2, 2017. Jackson’s medical team had a difficult time accessing the appropriate location to administer the drug into his spine and chose to make another attempt using special imaging technology a few days later. Spinraza is the first FDA approved drug for spinal muscular atrophy and a single injection of the drug, needed six times the first year and three times a year after that, costs $125,000 per injection. The Saville’s lost a daughter to SMA in 2005 and have continued the fight for a cure since their son Jackson was born.