'Smile and Keep Rolling,' Says Teen With Spinal Muscular Atrophy at Summer Camp

Maria Llave, 17, relies on her power wheelchair to get around. She has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a progressive disease that causes muscle weakness. "Little tasks in the day, like opening a water bottle, we can't do that," she said. But during her week at the Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp, a sleepaway camp created for kids like her, Maria participates in activities like swimming, sports and theater even though she can't normally do that in her everyday life.