Seven-month-old Baby Emiliano Flores is slowly losing the ability to move and is in need of urgent medical intervention.
Baby Emiliano has been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in 6,000 children.
His parents, Lyzanni and Emil Flores, appeared on Open Your Eyes this morning alongside neurologist Dr Marco Mendez to share their son’s story and appeal to the public for help.
Born on 7 December 2025, Baby Emiliano was discharged from hospital as a healthy newborn. But weeks later, his parents began noticing something was off. “He wasn’t completing his motor skills as every other baby should do,” Emil said. “We were very excited about the birth of our newborn, so we were looking forward to these special moments. Unfortunately, after that, everything has been in and out of hospitals.”
“Almost immediately when I held the baby, the baby just wrapped around my hand… And immediately that diagnosis comes to mind,” Dr Mendez added.
SMA is caused by a mutation in the SMN1 gene, which is critical for motor neurone survival. Without it, muscles weaken rapidly. “Slowly, the child will be starting to lose many of his motor skills,” explained Dr Mendez. “They are not able to move at all, depending on the severity.”
Lyzanni added, “He couldn’t move his feet, his thighs, or over his shoulders. It has been very heartbreaking because we expected to enjoy this time with our son, as he is our first son.”
Despite the devastating diagnosis, SMA Type 1, the most severe form, there is hope. A one-time gene therapy exists that can drastically improve Baby Emiliano’s chances. But the treatment comes at a cost of approximately $2 million USD.
Dr Mendez explained that time is critical. “The more time that passes, those neurones die because they don’t have the protein to maintain them,” Dr Mendez said. “If the baby doesn’t get the treatment, in two years, he’s going to die.”
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign and is asking for public support. “Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to giving Emiliano a chance at a brighter, healthier life,” they stated in the GoFundMe account.
To help Baby Emiliano, donations can be made through GoFundMe or the parent’s bank accounts in Belize. The family can also be reached directly at 615-5735 or 614-9302.