DUE WEST, S.C. – Luke is an outspoken young man with a bright future ahead of him. He is majoring in communication studies at Furman University and is even the National Youth Chairman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

At just 14 months old, Luke was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disease that causes ongoing muscle degeneration for which there is currently no cure. Because of this, Luke has never had the ability to walk and has been in a wheelchair since the age of two. The severity of his condition requires the presence of specialized caregivers 24 hours a day. Despite...