Grateful mom meets lab staff in Regina
When the Saskatchewan Newborn Screening Program added four new routine tests to their program in February 2022, including spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Lindsay Williamson, mother to a son who was diagnosed with SMA prior to the addition of these screenings, was appreciative.
Lindsay was interested in meeting the team that performs these screenings and reached out to the staff at the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory (RRPL) to share her son’s story and thank them for making testing easier for newborns who share this diagnosis, and their families. This is the first time the lab has been contacted for an experience like this.
“Having an opportunity to meet a family impacted by newborn screening really helps us appreciate the fundamental purpose of all of our efforts and the importance of providing accurate and timely results,” said Dana Forrest, Supervisor, Genetics and Newborn Screening at RRPL.
RRPL performs approximately 170,000 tests for newborn screenings each year.
On June 14, Lindsay Williamson and her son Mason met with the RRPL staff. She was interested in the people who would help newborns with these health conditions, noting that it would simplify the process for families during a stressful situation, making the diagnosis immediate.
“Seeing our newborn go through multiple physical tests, countless blood draws, ultrasounds, and an MRI before the genetic blood work that led us to an SMA diagnosis was ordered, we know the pain and stress that accompanies unexplained symptoms and the search for answers,” said Williamson during her visit to the lab. “Newborn screening means the next generation of SMA patients may never experience a symptom of the disease if treated prior to onset. Knowing that other families will not have to endure the same delays or unnecessary tests on their journey to diagnosis and timely treatment of this rare disease is an exciting milestone in this province.”
Review the newborn screening services pamphlet for more information.