Couple celebrates memory of daughter, raises funds for charity
CELEBRATING ALEXANDRA are Andrea and John Meigs with children Calla, Avery and Isabella. Photo by Andrew Zinn
A 10-year celebration took place recently at the Hancock Park home of John and Andrea Nelson Meigs. Their backyard was filled with family and friends who joined in recognizing a breakthrough year for Cure SMA (spinal muscular atrophy).
SMA is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. It was through the tragic death of their middle daughter, Alexandra, at two and one-half months, that the Meigs family learned about SMA a decade ago.
As Andrea writes, “Ultimately, we decided that we didn’t want Alexandra’s life to be in vain and wanted it to stand for something, as we knew there was a greater meaning to the loss of our daughter.” They fund-raise every year on Alexandra’s birthday anniversary. They have raised over $140,000 for Cure SMA.
The breakthrough that made this year’s birthday celebration especially poignant was that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) finally has approved the first-ever drug treatment for children with Type 1 SMA (the most severe).
BUDDING STAR JD McCrary performed at the fundraiser.
Andrea and John are lawyers in the entertainment business, she as an agent and he as a law firm partner. With those connections, they added a little something extra to this year’s celebration of Alexandra’s birthday. Ten-year-old JD McCrary, a budding star soon to appear as Young Simba in the upcoming Disney live-action movie remake of “Lion King,” joined the festivities and sang four songs. Learn more at curesma.org.
Category: People
