ST. LOUIS (KSDK) -- Spinal Muscular Atrophy is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. Those affected with SMA are robbed of their physical strength.
Three-year-old Hunter Davis is beating the odds, thanks to the resourcefulness of his parents, and a video of him went viral!
Hunter's hero's name is Winter. She's the star of the movie Dolphin Tale.
"We actually learned about Winter from our 9-year-old. She had watched something about Winter on television. She told us Hunter would have to meet Winter because Hunter was like Winter," explained Hunter's mother, Khrystal.
Hunter's family took him to Clearwater Marine Aquarium to meet Winter, and they became instant friends.
A video of the two of them together has over 1.1 million views on the aquarium's Facebook page.
Hunter's mom says people watch because they care. The two share a story in overcoming immense hurdles.
Hunter has type 1 SMA, the most severe.
"It robs the affected of the ability to move. It affects all muscles. To eat, to swallow and eventually to breathe," explained Khrystal.
But, Hunter's parents found a treatment, not here but out of the country.
"We have to pay for the travel, the medication, the doctor, the hospital. And none of this is covered by insurance. So we are very fortunate we are able to do this," said Khrystal.
The Davis family travels with Hunter every six weeks to Cancun, Mexico for the treatments because it is not yet FDA approved.
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