tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86041225748774614692024-02-23T23:56:37.269-05:00Chronically MommyThis blog will focus on my being a mommy and having a chronic illness. It really is its own microcosm of my life~Being Chronically Mommy!Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-43918548807836243272017-05-02T15:06:00.001-04:002017-05-02T15:06:02.968-04:00Dana Marton (Morningstar)'s Personal Page for 2017 Walk to Cure Arthritis - Atlanta, GA<a href="http://www.walktocurearthritis.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1165552">Dana Marton (Morningstar)'s Personal Page for 2017 Walk to Cure Arthritis - Atlanta, GA</a>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-58455811503156291352017-04-03T03:08:00.000-04:002017-04-03T10:00:32.440-04:00I'm Not as Strong as Everyone Thinks I Am, Yet in My Journey I Will Become Strong!<br />
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<span class="" id="text_9g6JzuxYiI4">It seems as though the popular phrase these days is "You are so strong." I
feel like I hear that all the time. I have to be honest, that phrase is making
me sick, people. Quit saying it! Ya know what? I'm actually not that strong!</span></div>
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<span class="" id="text_2jlFA83m3G2">I'm rather weak in the literal sense of the word. My physical therapist says
that I have weak muscles, weak joints, weak bones, weak tendons and
ligaments that attach the bones and muscles and joints, etc.</span></div>
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<span class="" id="text_zvYGk17YxiC">My hands and fingers are weak. I have a brace for my wrist, and a splint for
each finger. My knees are weak. I have a knee brace for both knees, and my
Avascular Necrosis is worse in both so I am just waiting for their collapse. My
ankles and feet are weak. I have to have ankle and arch supports, or achilles
tendinitis and plantar fasciitis ensue. Currently I have a hairline stress
fracture on top of my left foot from walking or standing. My spine is weak.
My hips were so weak that they have already collapsed and have already
been replaced. My shoulders and elbows are weak, leading to one shoulder
replacement thus far. I have had shingles 24 times! I'm on a 24 day course
of steroids right now for inflammation of a facial nerve from one of my
shingles outbreaks. On the steroids, my immune system was compromised
more, so now I am having yet another outbreak!</span></div>
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<span class="" id="text_-w7UlVR5_W0">Why am I telling you this? I'm telling you this because I have several
autoimmune and auto-inflammatory diseases. I wake up every morning just
like everyone else does. The difference is that it takes me 30 minutes to get
out of bed because I am so stiff and sore and achy and fatigued and just
plain worn out to get my butt out of bed. I move very slowly for about 2
hours after finally maneuvering my crunchy self out of bed.</span></div>
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<span class="" id="text_nbK1Ea4mAk4">I take myself directly from my bed to the couch </span>because it is too hard to do
much else. Once I take my 10-15 morning pills, I am capable of being a mom
to my 6 year old son Mick. I get his breakfast ready, his morning meds, help
with his clothes, and then we walk together to his school. I walk there and
back which is less than a mile.<span class="" id="text_4m-WpBX4Hh6"> When I return home, I generally also return to the couch. I love the couch. I
set everything up around me that I will need for the day. I have my phone,
water, the TV remote, a snack, a book to read, something to work on, my
laptop, my pillow and a blanket.</span></div>
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<span class="" id="text_qYWF8Y5moe2">I </span>might have some errands to run or appointments to go to while he is at
school. I might have some laundry to do. I might have to take Mick to dance
class, soccer, baseball or choir after school. For the most part, I am on that
couch all day except the walk to and from school and going to bed at night. I
might decide to throw in a shower now and then when I get dirty too.</div>
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<span class="">Now to my point...</span><br />
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I'm writing this because I am just so so so tired these days. Sure I do
what I need to do for Mick and for my husband, but I am barely getting
through the day here. My energy is at a zero. My tank is on empty. I
have no extra stores. I have no idea what to do. I have tried resting
all day, but it doesn't revive me. I have tried exercise, but it doesn't
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<span class="" id="text_IdK_ILrXtT9">If you are familiar with the Spoon Theory, I am out of spoons. I have no
spoon reserves! I have not begged for, borrowed or stolen any spoons. I am
just totally SOL! (I will accept donated spoons at any time however. Thanks
in advance.)</span></div>
<span class="" id="text_-3zxXE5TqLC">Family and friends really don't understand. They think because I look good,
and I don't look sick that I am perfectly </span><span class="">fine. They also believe that because I </span><span class="" id="text_-3zxXE5TqLC">don't ask for anything or for any help that I don't need anything, anyone or
any help. I never call, text, email or send a message via carrier pigeon to my
family or friends asking for anything.</span><span class="" id="text_sJriilGXkKB"> Interestingly, I don't get calls, texts, emails or messages from carrier pigeons
from family and friends asking me if I need anything either.</span><br />
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<span class="" id="text_h1XXzjVn5J1">I have had 10 surgeries, and never once was anyone here from my family
while I was in the hospital. Also, I have never had a visitor in the hospital
besides my own husband. I have had 3 joints replaced, 2 additional surgeries
on my shoulders, 2 additional surgeries on my hips, and my gallbladder
removed. I had 2 laparoscopic surgeries. I also have had 4 minor eye
procedures done. They are minor yes, but they still have to stick needles in
your eyeball. Your eyes are open so you see a needle coming straight at you!
It's horrifying! I had to drive myself with an infant after having tear duct
plugs placed, removed and tear ducts cauterized. The cauterization is painful
even with local anesthesia. They literally burn your tear ducts closed! It
smokes and BURNS, actually BURNS! I have had 2 epidural pain injections
and nerve blocks in my SI joints. I have had 2 endometrial biopsies in the
last two years. Do you know that they don't give you anesthesia for that?
They just cut pieces of your endometrial wall without any numbing or ice or
anything. I go every 4 weeks for an I.V. (Remicade) for my psoriatic arthritis. </span><span class="" id="text_h1XXzjVn5J1">I always go alone and return by taxi home.</span></div>
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<span class="" id="text_v2ang6UdSUA">Still I know what everyone is thinking as they read this, "You are so strong!"
No, I'm not! Every single day. I lose a little bit of hope. Every single day, I
fear for the next day. Every single day, I find it harder and harder to leave
my house. Every single day, I find it harder just to do the simple thing. </span><span class="" id="text_OIYyG7AI1J_">But ya know what? Every single day, I pray a little harder too. Every single
day, I still get out of bed no matter how hard or how long it takes. Every
single day, I continue to get dressed. Every single day, I take all my
medicine. Every single day, I teach my son how to love others, how to be
happy, how to grow up to be a strong husband and father some day. Every
single day, I remind myself that it's ok to be weak. Every single </span><br />
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day, I remind
myself to ask for help. Every single day, I remind myself that I can't do it
alone. Every single day, I remind myself that I have gotten this far, and I can
keep going. Every single day, I remind myself that, I may be weak right now,
but if I play my cards right, I think I might come out with a good, strong
hand.<span class="" id="text_qXdjhB8yb44"><span class="" id="text_qXdjhB8yb44">What's the secret? There really is no secret to being strong except figuring
out that you had the answer all along. All of us who are </span></span><span class="" id="text_qXdjhB8yb44"><span class="">weakened physically
by chronic illnesses, somehow God has blessed us with a strong will, a strong </span><span class="" id="text_qXdjhB8yb44">heart and a strong soul. We have to figure that out on our own though. We
have to get there on our own. For me, the realization comes every single day
when I look at my son, and I understand that I am his STRONG Chronically
Mommy! So...I may not be as strong as everyone thinks I am right now, but it is in my journey that I will become strong!</span></span><br />
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Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-18070634152671213232015-02-27T16:37:00.000-05:002015-02-27T16:57:05.843-05:00The World Has Stopped! Chronically Mommy Has The Flu!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, It has been a VERY long time! I am back y'all! I missed all my followers out there. I have just really had a trying couple of years with a little boy, chronic pain, chronic autoimmune crap, chronic everything, but mainly I have been so worn out. By the end of the day, I just want to sleep. Of course, as you all know, when you have chronic illnesses and chronic pain, you can never actually sleep at the end of the day, but you can dissolve into the sheets and just melt into nothingness! That is what I have been doing every night for about 2 years it seems. Here and there, I have found time to do other things, but mostly I do my mommy stuff and go to bed.<br />
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So right now, I have the crud, the yuck, the blah, the flu!!! I get the flu shot every single year like the obedient chronic mommy that I am. This year Mick and I got ours together at his pediatrician office. My doctor informed me that it is only 23% effective this year. Great. Maybe I should look at it in a positive way, that I was the lucky one that got a flu shot and the flu...nah! This ain't lucky! I have been miserable. Mick was sick but only had a fever for maybe 12 hours at the longest. Then he had the coughing. He has asthma, so I made sure to use the nebulizer on him before taking him into the doctor. When I got him into the doctor, he said that I did fantastic! Great job Mommy!!! His lungs were great, no fever, no sign of flu complications and no infections. He is good. He has a small lingering cough, but it isn't worrisome.<br />
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As for me....well I started feeling sick last week on Thursday or Friday. I started Tamiflu on Sunday afternoon, and took the last pill today. I do feel better overall, but I am still coughing. I still have head congestion. I still feel so tired and fatigued. I still can't concentrate. The achiness is so much better than it was, thank goodness. It was horrible. I thought at first that I just had a cold and my autoimmune diseases were flaring causing severe pain everywhere. Well, come to find out that the flu causes severe aches and pains! It is no joke! Lemme tell ya! <br />
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I have made sure to get plenty of rest, plenty of fluids (water and OJ), and have been eating healthy foods. But I also have been eating whatever I will eat. I haven't been feeling like eating anything so if I have a taste for something, I eat it! I have been staying out of the cold air because it makes me cough and wheeze. I have been taking warm baths and showers. I like the showers to be steamier for my chest and sinuses. <br />
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I am amazed at how much Mommy is in control of and in charge of. When we are sick, it is clear that the house doesn't get clean, dinner doesn't get made, toys don't get put back where they belong, and important things don't get done! I think that for many of us, we don't look sick most of the time with our chronic illnesses, then when we get something acute like the flu, and we are down for the count, our significant other and our children, are really caught off guard. They are seriously surprised! My hubby asked me if I did the dark and light load of wash the other day. I was still in my P.J.s, and my hair was a greasy mess. I did nothing, absolutely nothing! I just sat on the couch and looked at the TV. I didn't even really watch TV. I just looked at the TV. That is when you know you are sick! Now the garbage disposal is broken, the water heater needs replaced, and my son flushed something down his toilet that has made it unable to flush or unclog. So the plumber has been here all day with me. Meanwhile, we have a weeks worth of dirty dishes piled on the countertop because of the garbage disposal, wall-to-wall hot wheel tracks because I haven't picked anything up, and laundry in piles in our bedroom because we had to get the water heater replaced today. The world has literally stopped around me! Nothing is happening! So I am writing my blog post. I figure I'm due.<br />
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Michael is 4 now. He is in pre-school at a Methodist church nearby. It's about 7 miles from our home. Of course with Atlanta traffic, it takes 30 minutes to get there and 30 minutes back. Nothing is ever easy! It is always so much harder when you are in pain, and then when you pile the flu bug on top of that...I have no words to describe it. I would suggest that you still get the flu shot. It still will guard against those particular strains. You never know which types will end up being the ones that go around, so better safe than sorry. My two cents.<br />
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I hope to talk to you all more often and soon!Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-51621127107313435012013-05-06T23:46:00.001-04:002013-05-06T23:46:30.747-04:00“But you’re too young” <span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
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I fight very hard to spread awareness and educate those who are ignorant to what autoimmune arthritis is. When someone sees me park in a disabled parking spot and then tells me I can't park there because it is for someone who has a disability, I get very angry! I first think of it as a teachable moment. I tell the person that I have autoimmune arthritis. Of course, people never totally hear you! They many times will automatically come back with some kind of story about their grandmother having arthritis in her knee or something similar. Then they will end up somehow coming back to you, saying, <i>"but you're too young..."</i> Again, I will continue with the education. I will explain that autoimmune arthritis is not the same as your grandmother's arthritis. Then I will explain that even children can get autoimmune arthritis. Although, I am upset and mad that people don't know this, I try to use this as an opportunity to educate them and make them aware.</div>
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Because of many of my doctors' mentality of <i>"but you're too young..."</i> it took until I was 27 to finally have a name for my autoimmune arthritis disease. I was ignored, treated like a hypochondriac, and basically pushed away becaused of that mentality and by health professionals too! It isn't just uneducated, ignorant people who question whether or not I am too young to get arthritis. Doctors have also fallen into the category of people who need to be made aware of what autoimmune arthritis actually is and who it affects. It can be exhausting, overwhelming, and frustrating dealing with health care professionals who should know better, who should be keeping up with the current health diagnoses to know that even children get arthritis. It isn't just an old person's disease!</div>
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I look at it also from the angle that when I was very young, still a child, and I was trying to find out what was wrong with me, not one doctor tested me or looked into autoimmune arthritis diseases. When I was a child, there weren't many doctors that specialized in that area, especially for children, and very few doctors looked into a child having a type of arthritis because of the mentality of <i>"but you're too young..."</i> Although this has changed somewhat, and now there are pediatric rheumatologists to help diagnose young children earlier and without hitting a brick wall of <i>"but you're too young."</i> Of course, even though there are now pediatric rheumatologists, there are very few and not nearly enough to offer to those suffering from symptoms of autoimmune arthritis. If there were more pediatric rheumatologists, more children would be diagnosed sooner and more doctors would understand that with autoimmune arthritis there is no "too soon."</div>
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I know that when someone says to me or someone I know "but you're too young," that I get angry. I try to use that emotion toward gathering the information to teach those that are uneducated. There is no age on autoimmune arthritis disease. Everyone is different, and everyone is affected in different ways as well.</div>
Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-60540398444002658262013-04-13T04:05:00.002-04:002013-04-13T04:05:24.360-04:00April edition of the Patients for a Moment (PFAM) blog carnival--The Stresses of Chronic Pain--Misconceptions and Stigmas!<div class="attachmentText fsm fwn fcg">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><u>Misconception</u>--<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">n</span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">--</span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: pointer;">false</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">mistaken</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">view,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">opinion,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">attitude</span></span></b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"><br /></span></span></b></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"><u>Stigma</u>--</span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">n</span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">--</span></span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">distinguishing</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">mark</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">social</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">disgrace; </span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">small</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">scar</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">mark</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">such</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">as</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">birthmark; </span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">any</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">mark</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">on</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">skin,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">such</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">as</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">one</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">characteristic</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">specific</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">disease; </span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">any</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">sign</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">mental</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">deficiency</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">emotional</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: pointer;">upset</span></span></b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: pointer;">The most wide-spread misconception about chronic pain is that it results from a psychological disorder. Other misconceptions are that those with chronic pain should be able to tolerate their pain better as time goes on, that they are using pain to get narcotics, and that they exaggerate their pain to gain something like sympathy or money. There is a real catch 22 dilemma too. If they talk about their pain, they risk being labeled as hypochondriacs or fakers, and if they hide their pain, others will think their pain is insignigicant. It is so stressful that even the most stoic person will show signs of how taxing it is on a person. Chronic pain patients suffer daily from guilt, demoralization, and depression due to the negative perceptions of other people. You have probably heard the saying, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps." For a chronic pain sufferer, you can't just talk yourself out of the pain. Then of course we have the patients who truly believe they must have sinned. They ask themselves everyday what they did wrong to endure chronic pain. Some call this "Job" Syndrome. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: pointer;">There is an overall agreement with patients of a generalized frustration about the public's perception of chronic pain. When the public tells you that you look fine so therefore you must be feeling fantastic, this says that pain is something that is worn on the outside when it really is something we wear on the inside. Men put more emphasis on how chronic pain affects their work, and women put more emphasis on how it affects their relationships. That makes sense though. Well, it does to me as a woman. I am worried if he will still love me like this, and he is worried if he can sit at his computer to complete his workday. Our coworkers, family and friends manifest their perceptions in so many ways, such as raising their eyebrows at you at work, a friend asking why you aren't feeling better yet when it has been a week, and even family members making the decision to turn their heads and minimize the problem. We have staggering statistics out there that one in three Americans suffes from chronic pain. Even with these statistics, there are societal biases in the workplace, restaurants, and even movie theaters. They are all designed for pain-free people!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: pointer;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: pointer;"></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: pointer;"></span></span>People who suffer from chronic pain say that a huge factor behind the stigma is the invisible nature of most chronic pain, " You don't look like you're in pain." When people have easily visible proof of pain like swollen joints, canes, wheelchairs, braces, etc, they tend to report that the evidence of pain offers them validation in the eyes of others. If someone asked the question, "What does pain look like?" The answer is really more the visible evidence of the pain. You cannot actually see pain. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stigma comes from the health care professionals, family, friends, the general public, the government, insurance companies, and even from chronic pain sufferers themselves. It can arise from within. Pain sufferers often experience guilt and therefore they blame themselves for their own pain. Health care professionals often present psychological obstacles for chronic pain patients. They believe the patient didn't follow the instructions, is receiving financial or some other secondary gain from receiving pain meds, or that the the patient is imagining the pain. Patients tend to go from one doctor to another to find relief with the burden being on the patient. Some doctors may focus too much on helping patients accept their pain and not enough on finding ways to help the pain. Why can't doctors work on treatment plans instead of telling patients they will have to just learn to live with the pain? This can lead to family members, especially spouses, feeling a sense of frustration that they can't do more to help the pain. Families tend to go from one extreme to the other, from gushing over the patient to acting angry even rejecting him. Many patients, especially as children will cope by hiding their pain. They fear rejection. Some parents will refer to the chronic pain as the "growing pains". People are afraid of people with chronic pain because they look so normal. They are afraid they could end up in the same scenario. They don't know how to act. They also fear they will "catch it".</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"God I envy your life!" You hear this a lot because you may not have worked full time in the last two years. So many people just can't relate to what life would be like with chronic pain, and it just seems easier. Also, there are problems when you are job hunting. They may look at when you had those long periods of time where you didn't work. They will interpret that as a red, or warning, flag. You might be told that there is someone more qualified for the position than you. Chronic pain cannot be objectively validated like cancer, heart disease, or stroke. It can be more easily dismissed by employers and employees.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Inaccurate information about arthritis persists and is often spread. Such as:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arthritis is an old person's disease.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arthritis is induced by a cold, wet climate.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arthritis can be cured.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arthritis is caused by a poor diet.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arthritis consists of only minor aches and pains.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"You felt fine yesterday....why so tired today?"</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"You have arthritis, you can't......"</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333300;">Unfortunately,
our misconceptions can become barriers to good pain relief. Some of
your ideas about the use of pain medications may be based on these
common misconceptions.</span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333300;">I Will Become Addicted</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333300;">I Will Run Out of Pain Relief Options if I Begin Treating Pain "Too Early"</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333000;"><span style="color: #333000;">I Should Just Try to Stand the Pain</span><span style="color: #333000;"> </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333000;"><span style="color: #333000;">Some of the Side Effects of Medication Are Just as Bad as the Pain</span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #333000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #333000;">Pain patients are speaking out more publicly and getting more publicity.
On a local level, they are banding together in support groups to
fortify each other. It is only a matter of time until this expanding
vitality impacts the public consciousness to finally put an end to the stigma of
chronic pain. </span></i></span></span> </b></span><br />
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</a>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-15759563900205818832013-04-12T16:26:00.000-04:002013-04-12T16:26:37.527-04:00HAWMC Day 3 – Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a class="fancybox" href="http://blog.wegohealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/HAWMC_2012_dayprompt-3.png" rel="fancybox" title="HAWMC_2012_dayprompt-3"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6834" height="100" src="http://blog.wegohealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/HAWMC_2012_dayprompt-3.png" title="HAWMC_2012_dayprompt-3" width="440" /></a><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This picture symbolizes my conditions/diseases and my experiences as a person and mommy with joint diseases and as an advocate, an activist, a volunteer and a blogger!</span></span></b></i><br />
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Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-17764338799907510492013-04-11T23:24:00.002-04:002013-04-11T23:24:54.729-04:00HAWMC Day 2 – Introductions<h2>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For day 2 of Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge, I am going to talk about what it is like to have a joint disease. There are 5 things you should know about my condition(s). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First, I have Psoriatic Arthritis with spinal involvement in my cervical spine, lumbar spine and SI joints. I have not been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, but have been told by an orthopaedic spine surgeon that I most likely have a rare more severe form of Psoriatic Arthritis called Psoriatic Spondylitis. PsA is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the skin, scalp, nails and joint. The the psoriatic skin cell forms lesions. Second, 30% of people with psoriasis also develop inflammatory arthritis, which is PsA. The psoriasis precedes the arthritis in most of the people with PsA. The joints at the ends of the fingers are most commonly involved, but other joints can be involved too like the wrists, knees and ankles. Other symptoms that usually accompany it are in the fingernails and toes, and range from small pits in the nails to near total destruction of the nails, resembling nail fungus. Third, about 20% will end up with spinal involvement called Psoriatic Spondylitis. That inflammation in the spine can lead to complete fusion (Ankylosing Spondylitis) or only involve certain areas of the spine. When spinal involvement occurs, there is a greater chance of testing positive for HLA-B27, which is a genetic marker. Fourth, there is currently no known cure. There are treatments and medication only. Although the exact cause is unknown, heredity is thought to play a strong role. Up to 40% have a close relative with it. In identical twins, if one has it, the other has a 75% chance of also having it. Disease course and prognosis varies from person to person. The severity of the rash does not determine the severity of the arthritis. Also, the skin condition does not always occur at the same time as the arthritis symptoms. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fifth, a number of medications can be used to help treat the symptoms of PsA: NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to reduce the inflammation, joint pain and stiffness. DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) are sometimes
prescribed in more severe cases. All four of the TNF-a inhibitor medications approved by the FDA
for ankylosing spondylitis are also approved for treating psoriatic
arthritis. A dermatologist may also prescribe various medications to help treat the skin condition caused by the disease. Exercise is necessary. It helps
keep the muscles strong to protect the joint. Not using a sore joint will
cause the muscles to become weak and result in more pain. Other management tools include physical therapy, heat for
stiffness, ice for swelling, physical therapy and surgery for those with
severe joint damage. (Spondylitis Association of America http://www.spondylitis.org/)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are five more things you should know. First, I also have Avascular Necrosis (AVN). I was diagnosed in my hips, knees and shoulders. Also known as Osteonecrosis (ON), it affects about 20, new patients each year in the U.S. It mostly affects patients between 20 and 50 years old, with the average being in the late 30's. [Children from 2 to early teenage years get a
form of ON called Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
(Perthes for short) named after the three doctors who first
described it. Treatment for Perthes is completely
different than for adult ON.] It does not affect life expectancy so several hundred thousand patients are living with this disease in the U.S. To understand ON, you need to know that bone is a living tissue with cells and a blood supply. The word "osteonecrosis" means "death of bone", which occurs from the loss of the blood supply to the bone. Most people tend to use the term Avascular Necrosis, and AVN has become very popular in use because it's shorter to say and write. The risk of getting AVN is very small if the person is completely healthy, most likely less than one in 100,000. Most people who end up getting AVN likely have an underlying health condition. People that are over the age of 50 probably develop AVN from a fracture of the hip or very rarely from a disease of the major blood vessels of the lower leg. There are post-traumatic or non-traumatic forms of AVN. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second, post-traumatic AVN is a common cause of AVN that includes displaced fractures or dislocations. Minor trauma or even most major injury does not often result in AVN. Certain fractures where blood vessels to part of the bone have been damaged may result in AVN. Non-traumatic AVN happens when there is no history of trauma. There are a number of risk factors. They do not know how these risk factors lead to the development of the disease, but they have different ideas. The ideas, however, have not yet been proven. There are some people who seem completely healthy with no detectable risk factors, and they consider the category "idiopathic" or "of unknown cause". Probably the most common cause of post-traumatic AVN of the hip and of other joints is a displaced fracture or a dislocation. The risk factors for AVN can be separated into definite and probably. The most common risk factor is a history of high dose steroid treatment for a medical condition such as RA or Lupus. Low dose steroid treatment is not thought to cause AVN. The next most common associated condition is a history of high alcohol use. The more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk of AVN.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" bgcolor="#33CC99" border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width: 453px;"><tbody>
<tr valign="middle"> <td bgcolor="#B6FABB" colspan="3" height="26"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #336633;">CAUSES OF OSTEONECROSIS </span></b> </span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="middle"> <td bgcolor="#B6FABB" height="26" width="37%"><div align="center">
<span style="color: #336633; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>DEFINITE </b> </span> </div>
</td> <td bgcolor="#B6FABB" colspan="2" height="26"><div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #336633; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>PROBABLE </b> </span> </div>
</td> </tr>
<tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="middle"> <td height="26" width="37%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Major Trauma Fractures</span> </li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="26" width="33%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Corticosteroids, High Dosages </span> </li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="26" width="30%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Blood Clotting Disorders </span> </li>
</ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="middle"> <td height="26" width="37%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dislocations </span></li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="26" width="33%"><ul>
<li> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Alcohol</span></li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="26" width="30%"><ul>
<li> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pancreatitis </span></li>
</ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="middle"> <td height="25" width="37%"><ul>
<li> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Caisson Disease<br />
(Deep Sea Divers)</span></li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="25" width="33%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lipid Disturbances</span></li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="25" width="30%"><ul>
<li> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Kidney Disease</span></li>
</ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="middle"> <td height="20" width="37%"><ul>
<li> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sickle Cell Disease </span></li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="20" valign="top" width="33%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Connective Tissue Disease</span></li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="20" valign="top" width="30%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Liver Disease </span></li>
</ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="middle"> <td height="26" width="37%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Postirradiation </span></li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="26" valign="top" width="33%"> </td> <td height="26" valign="top" width="30%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lupus</span></li>
</ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="middle"> <td height="31" width="37%"><ul>
<li> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Chemotherapy </span></li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="31" valign="top" width="33%"><br /></td> <td height="31" valign="top" width="30%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Smoking </span></li>
</ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="middle"> <td height="26" width="37%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Arterial Disease </span></li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="26" width="33%"><br /></td> <td height="26" width="30%"><br /></td> </tr>
<tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="middle"> <td height="26" width="37%"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Gaucher's Disease</span></li>
</ul>
</td> <td height="26" width="33%"><br /></td> <td height="26" width="30%"><br /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is no <span style="font-size: small;">known prevention. It is<span style="font-size: small;">, however<span style="font-size: small;">, believed to be true that if we eliminate or treat the risk factors, we can reduce the</span></span></span></span> risk for getting AVN. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Third, 90% of people with <span style="font-size: small;">AVN have it of the hip<span style="font-size: small;">, however, <span style="font-size: small;"> it can also attack the knees, shoulders and ankles <span style="font-size: small;">in that order.</span></span></span></span></span> Nearly 3% will have multiple joints (3 or more) involved. We classify the joints the same, the disease progression is similar, passing from x-ray negative to x-ray positive without collapse to early collapse to extensive joint destruction. The knee can be divided into the medial compartment which is the inside of the knee between the femur and the tibia or shinbone, the lateral compartment which is the outside knee, and the patellofemoral compartment (kneecap). The most common involvement is the thigh bone portion of the knee. It is also not uncommon for the tibia or shinbone to also be involved. It is unusual for the patella (kneecap) to be involved. The natural progression of AVN in the knee is less certain than the hip. AVN of the shoulder has an even less certain natural history and natural progression than the knee. The area that is involved is the humeral head (shoulder) which is the area of the head which is in contact with the socket when the elbow is held at 40 degrees of flexion and 20 degrees away from the body. The ankle bone (talus) is not involved with AVN very often. It represents a real problem for both the physician and the patient. <span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fourth,<span style="font-size: small;"> m</span>any patients with AVN</span> have had it for a long time before they have any symptoms. The first symptoms are usually felt during an activity and are pain or aching in the joint that is affected. They usually begin slowly and may be sporadic at first. The pain may begin suddenly. With disease progression, the pain increases and is associated with stiffness and loss of motion of the joint that is involved. If the joint is in the leg, limping is common. The hip is the most common joint affected, and the AVN of the hip pain is usually felt in the groin. Stage I of the disease, x-rays appear normal, and an MRI is used to make the diagnosis. When it is seen on x-ray, it is not actually the dead bone that can be seen but the healing response of the living bone to the area of necrosis. The more advanced stages of AVN begin when the dead bone starts to fail mechanically through a process of microfractures of the bone. At some point, this results in damage to the other side of the joint, which requires major joint reconstruction. When more of the joint is damaged in the more advanced stages of AVN, it is less likely that you can preserve the natural joint. Joint replacements today are very successful even in the younger patients with AVN. The physician does prefer to preserve the normal joint when possible, but many do not see the doctor until the AVN is in the advanced stage of the disease.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #339933;"></span></u></b></span><br />
<br /><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" style="width: 502px;"><tbody>
<tr><td width="220"><div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
<img height="250" src="http://www.nonf.org/nofbrochure/brochureimages/figa-b-c-d.jpg" width="177" /> <br />
</span></div>
</td> <td width="276"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">These
x-rays of the hip show the different stages of the
disease. At first (stage I), there are no
detectable changes on x-ray (fig A). In stage II,
there are some changes but the surface is still
intact (fig B). As the disease progresses, the surface
begins to collapse (fig C) until, finally, the integrity of
the joint is destroyed (fig D).</span></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="color: #339933; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The ball of the hip is called the femoral head and is the most frequent bone involved. It is rare for the entire weight-bearing surface of the femoral head to be involved, but if more than half of the surface is involved, treatments to preserve the ball have a much lower chance of success.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="color: maroon;"></span></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" style="width: 270px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" height="40"><div align="center">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>MRI's of Femoral Heads<br />
diagnosed with Osteonecrosis</b></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td><div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img height="125" src="http://www.nonf.org/nofbrochure/brochureimages/mri%20minimal.jpg" width="102" /></span></div>
</td> <td><div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img height="125" src="http://www.nonf.org/nofbrochure/brochureimages/mrilargeb.jpg" width="101" /></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td><div align="center">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Small<br />
Lesion </span></b></span></div>
</td> <td><div align="center">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Large<br />
Lesion </b></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To diagnose AVN, the first, most important thing a physician can do is a thorough physical exam<span style="font-size: small;"> and take<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">your medical history. When there is a suspicion of AVN, your doctor will obtain one<span style="font-size: small;"> or more tests:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">X-ray<br />
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)<br />
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bone Scan<br />
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Computed Tomography (CT)<br />
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Biopsy</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fifth, <span style="font-size: small;">cr</span>utches, <span style="font-size: small;">canes or a walker help in alleviating pain with AVN. They can also protect the joint between the time of diagnosis and scheduling elective surgery. Limiting weight bearing may play a role in limiting progression while associated medical<span style="font-size: small;"> conditions are managed. Protected weight bearing alone is never an adequate treatment for AVN. It will not result in a cure of the condition no matter how <span style="font-size: small;">long it is maintained. There are times when a patient has an associated medical condition that may result in being unable to have surgery. Protected weight bearing may be recommended for pain management<span style="font-size: small;">. There aren't any <span style="font-size: small;">drugs made for the <span style="font-size: small;">prevention or treatment of AVN. To treat the disease, we have to understand how the disease develops first. <span style="font-size: small;">Although the<span style="font-size: small;">re has been considerable effort by researchers, they cannot figure<span style="font-size: small;"> out what causes AVN when it is not the result of a fracture or dis<span style="font-size: small;">location. Even though the risk factors have been identified, it is not known if there would be an effect on the disease by eliminating or treating the risks<span style="font-size: small;">. They are trying several<span style="font-size: small;"> different types of drugs<span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lipid Lowering Medications</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anticoagulants</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hypertensive Medications</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bis</span>phosphonates</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">You do not need to be in a drug study to receive medication treatment for <span style="font-size: small;">AVN. The meds listed are not experimental and can be prescribed by your <span style="font-size: small;">doctor. It <span style="font-size: small;">depends on your doctor's experience<span style="font-size: small;"> and your individual circumstance whether or not your doctor will prescribe one of these<span style="font-size: small;"> meds for you. All of these t<span style="font-size: small;">reatments are still being evaluated more thoroughly before the medical community is ready to acce<span style="font-size: small;">pt them as standards in AVN t<span style="font-size: small;">reatment. There are surgical options for treatment. Core decompression is a surgical procedure that takes a plug of bone out of the involved area. It is app<span style="font-size: small;">licable for mild to moderate degree of involvement which has not progressed to collapse. It involves making a hole in the bone so you <span style="font-size: small;">must have 6 weeks of protected weight bearing to avoid fracture through the hole. Pain relief has been excellent for many, bu<span style="font-size: small;">t it has not been as effective a<span style="font-size: small;">t del<span style="font-size: small;">aying the progression of the disease in long term. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Core decompression usually results in immediate relief of symptoms. However, because the natural progression of AVN of the knee is less predictable, it is uncertain that the core decompression alters the natural history. <span style="font-size: small;">P<span style="font-size: small;">eople with AVN and knee pain <span style="font-size: small;">who were treated with core decompressi<span style="font-size: small;">on have contin<span style="font-size: small;">ued to have pain relief for up to 20 years.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> There is some controversy about this procedure with a few studies that have been showing poor results<span style="font-size: small;">. When part of the bone dies<span style="font-size: small;">, it does not heal spontaneously. One way to approach this problem is to surgically remove the dea<span style="font-size: small;">d bone and fill the empty space with bone graft that is eith<span style="font-size: small;">er taken from the patient or from a bone bank. The success depends upon the quantity of <span style="font-size: small;">bone that has die<span style="font-size: small;">d. When you have a regular bone graft, you are <span style="font-size: small;">using dead bone serving as a<span style="font-size: small;"> scaffold for the body to build new bone around it. The body also has to g<span style="font-size: small;">row a new blood <span style="font-size: small;">supply. In <span style="font-size: small;">vascularized bone grafting, a bone with it<span style="font-size: small;">s own blood vessels is taken from the patient and hoked up to the blood vessels near the hip. The dead bone is rem<span style="font-size: small;">oved from <span style="font-size: small;">the <span style="font-size: small;">ball and replaced with the grafted bone th<span style="font-size: small;">a</span>t carries its own blood supply. The positive to this is that the body does not have to rebuild any new blood supply and the bon<span style="font-size: small;">e graft keeps its own physical and mechanical properties. This works best pr<span style="font-size: small;">ior to the collapse of the <span style="font-size: small;">joint, but it sometimes <span style="font-size: small;">is used in early or limited collapse of the <span style="font-size: small;">joint<span style="font-size: small;">. He<span style="font-size: small;">aling while filling in the defect will take place<span style="font-size: small;">, and during that time, crutches or a walker has to be used. The negative to this procedure is that a large piece of bone has to be removed from the lower leg<span style="font-size: small;">. Some develop pain at the <span style="font-size: small;">site from where the <span style="font-size: small;">bone graft was taken. The surgery takes several hours with a<span style="font-size: small;">n experienced team in these techniques. The patient must <span style="font-size: small;">be<span style="font-size: small;"> on cru<span style="font-size: small;">tches for several months. If both hips <span style="font-size: small;">have AVN, one may have to be delayed of it<span style="font-size: small;">s treatment for a period d<span style="font-size: small;">uring which time the ball may collapse. The location of the AVN is usually in an area of the bone that bears weight. in some cases, the bone c<span style="font-size: small;">an be cut <span style="font-size: small;">just below the are of inv<span style="font-size: small;">olvement and rotated so that a different part of the bone not affected by AVN can become the new weight-bearing area. This <span style="font-size: small;">cutting of the bone is called osteotomy. It is not very common but may apply to special cases with small lesions. At first only the ball is involved and not the socket of the hip <span style="font-size: small;">joint. Fe<span style="font-size: small;">moral<span style="font-size: small;"> Head Resurfacing (FHR) is the implanting of a metal hemisphere over the femoral head that matches the size of t<span style="font-size: small;">he original femoral head. It <span style="font-size: small;">is comparable to the c<span style="font-size: small;">apping of a tooth when the root is still good <span style="font-size: small;">rather than pulling the tooth and putting in a false tooth. After years, the metal head will gradually wear out the <span style="font-size: small;">socket and need to be converted into a total hip replacement. It is used more to buy time for younger patients who<span style="font-size: small;">se extent of disease or degree of progression is such that one of the<span style="font-size: small;"> procedures to preserve cannot be performed. It is still a relatively new procedure<span style="font-size: small;"> that is still being evaluated. A Femoral Head Replacement is basically half of a total hip replacement. Every<span style="font-size: small;"> comment about the Femoral Head Resurfacing also applies to the Femoral Head Replacement. It is a little more extensive because it puts a stem inside the <span style="font-size: small;">femor<span style="font-size: small;">al <span style="font-size: small;">bone. It is more difficul<span style="font-size: small;">t to convert into a total hip replacement. There is no<span style="font-size: small;"> evidence that this is more successful than the <span style="font-size: small;">Femoral Head Resurfacing either. There is also metal-on<span style="font-size: small;">-metal resurfacing. There is limited experien<span style="font-size: small;">ceAVN has progressed to a stage where it invol<span style="font-size: small;">ves the socket as well, <span style="font-size: small;">the only options are a hip fusion to mak<span style="font-size: small;">e it completely stiff or a total hip replacement (THR). A THR is one of the most successful surgical procedures ever<span style="font-size: small;"> with success rates above 95<span style="font-size: small;">%! The problem is that with AVN, and the age of the patient, it is not uncommon for the patient to live another 40 to 50 <span style="font-size: small;">years after a THR. With current technology, it is not likely the THR will last that long. Many doctors try other procedures first to put of <span style="font-size: small;">a </span>THR. Of course i<span style="font-size: small;">f the disease is extensive or advanced, a THR may be the only option that makes sense. Work is being done to make more dura<span style="font-size: small;">ble THRs to in theory last a lifetime for the younger patients. When AVN progresses to collapse, the only treatment is total knee replacement. <span style="font-size: small;">Partial knee replacement is not recommended because non-replaced areas of bone<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">can progress. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Unless the lesion is very large or the collapse is extensive, most
people will benefit from core decompression. Although shoulder
replacement is done, the success rate is not as great as the hip and
knee. The results may not be as long-lasting. The conservative procedure
is justified if it can grant the patient relief of symptoms and delay
the need for a shoulder replacement. Core decompression has had good
results even in patients with early collapse which is not the case with
early collapse of the hip. Ankle replacements have not been very successful in the past. Ankle
fusion has been performed with extensive bone grafting. When the ankle
bone is diseased with AVN, ankle fusion is not very successful because
the bone is dead. There is limited success with core decompression which
has been recommended as a trial and only because nothing else works
very well. An exterior ankle brace may be necessary. (National Osteonecrosis Foundation </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.osteonecrosis.org/">http://www.osteonecrosis.org</a>)</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are five of my blog posts that I think are helpful to anyone with any joint disease or any chronic pain disease who are also mommies or newly diagnosed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-can-be-mommy-have-chronic-illness.html">I Can Be a Mommy & Have a Chronic Illness!</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012/04/i-never-knew-what-i-feared-most-until-i.html">I Never Knew What I Feared The Most Until I Became A Mommy...</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012/06/people-like-myself-can-raise-child.html">People like myself CAN raise a child; there's no reason you should be denied this beautiful experience!</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012/06/people-like-myself-can-raise-child.html </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012/10/traveling-with-child-chronic-pain.html">Traveling with Child & Chronic Pain!</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012_10_01_archive.html </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2013/01/mick-is-2-mothers-heart-is-there-before.html">Mick Is 2!--A Mother's Heart Is There Before She Is Even A Mother...</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2013_01_01_archive.html </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are three guest writers that I posted on my blog that I feel are helpful to anyone with any joint disease, chronic pain disease, and especially any autoimmune arthritis disease (more specifically JA) and the newly diagnosed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What Do YOU Think of When You Hear The Word " ARTHRITIS"?--Ask Parker</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-do-you-think-of-when-you-hear-word.html </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012/07/alexa-my-story.html">Alexa: My Story</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012/07/alexa-my-story.html </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-journey-with-jra.html">My Journey with JRA</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://chronicallymommy.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-journey-with-jra.html</span></span></div>
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Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-79696340306285186692013-04-11T10:19:00.001-04:002013-04-11T10:37:21.701-04:00Chronically Mommy! 04/10 by Dana Morningstar | Blog Talk Radio<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/danamorningstar/2013/04/11/chronically-mommy#.UWbFwYBKg8w.blogger">Chronically Mommy! 04/10 by Dana Morningstar | Blog Talk Radio</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Let's talk frankly about what it's like to be a Mommy and to carry around the extra weight of Chronic Illnesses that include Chronic Pain, Disability, Autoimmune Arthritis Diseases, Avascular Necrosis, Fibromyalgia and more. Let's set the record straight about how we are not weak because of our Chronic Conditions, rather we are strong! We do both; we take care of a family as a Mommy and wake up and go to bed everyday questioning whether or not this is going to be a bad pain day or a better pain day. But mostly, we kiss boo-boos and wipe tears of the little ones in our lives so they don't have any pain. The conversation is worth your time! Share this!!! </span></span><br />
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Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-3059410316134707552013-04-08T22:44:00.001-04:002013-04-08T22:44:15.592-04:00HAWMC Day 1 – Getting Started<h2>
<a href="http://blog.wegohealth.com/2013/04/01/hawmc-day-1-getting-started/" rel="bookmark" title="Permalink to HAWMC Day 1 – Getting Started">HAWMC Day 1 – Getting Started</a></h2>
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<b style="text-align: center;">Welcome to our Third Annual Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge!</b></div>
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<br />My "Chronically Mommy" blog was my third blog in a series of three. I began writing about my spiritual journey in my first blog because when I became really sick, I became more spiritual and was searching for myself and my own path in this world. Then I began to write more about my experiences as a woman with chronic pain and awaiting my shoulder replacement surgery in my second blog. And in "Chronically Mommy", I became a mommy first and a woman with chronic pain and joint disease second. They go hand in hand however. I thought other mothers out there would like to know they are not alone. Also, we went through the adoption process, and it is a grueling process by itself, add the threatening shadows that seem to hover over the whole experience--chronic illness, disability and chronic pain--and you add additional stress, fear and concern that a birth mother will never choose you or that your "condition" will make it impossible to ever be matched with that one child that was meant to be yours. It was an extremely long and exhausting process, but we have a child and are the family we always wanted to be!<br />
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<br />Every year I have wanted to get involved in HAWMC, but something has always gotten in the way--a shoulder replacement, a new baby or just the time it takes to be a mommy for a child in general, and a hip replacement. So I am a newbie to HAWMC! I have met so many people online since I began "Chronically Mommy" and have learned many tricks of the trade--being mommy and chronic!<br />
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I have always had a diary and a journal. Blogging has become just another way to journal for me. I like it better though because people can respond and make comments. When you write in your own journal, you have no criticism. If I ask a question, I get answers--sometimes many, many answers. If I learn something new and want to pass it on, I can blog about it, and I have then educated and spread awareness. And nowadays, I can press one button and the blog post link goes to multiple sites at once, like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter so the information is even more widespread than when I first began!<br />
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I write about health topics as a Mommy because it is something that I know, that I experience and that I have the ability to share with others. I am an advocate. I am an activist. I want to share with the world what I know about being a Mom with chronic pain, disability, chronic illness, autoimmune arthritis, and other conditions. Even if someone reads my blog that doesn't have exactly the same diseases or conditions, I feel that I am able to reach anyone who shares a chronic illness, chronic pain or disabling condition. That is really the most important thing to me, to reach as many Chronic Mommies as I possibly can to help them to be, feel and live as well as possible!<br />
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Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-31514428504865369622013-01-04T02:44:00.000-05:002013-01-04T02:44:40.320-05:00Mick Is 2!--A Mother's Heart Is There Before She Is Even A Mother...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My husband and I had been trying to adopt for 6 years. There were many things that made the journey long for us. We moved from state to state several times, which caused us to change adoption agencies many times. I had several surgeries which pushed the adoption back even more. I will not list any of the agencies, etc. that we used, but we also tried foster care to adopt. We took the 7 week long class for our county, and filled out all the paperwork, had our home study done with our fingerprints and everything. We were just waiting for a child or sibling group. We were open to any child--either gender, any race or ethnicity or religion, any age 0 up to 12 years and even sibling groups. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbNBqYP8mXEjyQD6innrOnGtIG9h1LXDJmexUTU2ICDF2vNom2QsVVW4e-79XwDLKAwqF1bNJpDhAFZHItTaX402z1643zL-zcKQKV54-ulxLN0X3gFz4GQWP5lS1pKc9WzMF9OSOTc-C/s1600/WP_20121230_060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbNBqYP8mXEjyQD6innrOnGtIG9h1LXDJmexUTU2ICDF2vNom2QsVVW4e-79XwDLKAwqF1bNJpDhAFZHItTaX402z1643zL-zcKQKV54-ulxLN0X3gFz4GQWP5lS1pKc9WzMF9OSOTc-C/s400/WP_20121230_060.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When months went by without a phone call, I contacted our case manager. She said that they moved to a different office building and our paperwork was lost. We would have to start all over again if we wanted to continue with the foster to adopt. We were devastated! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAsPU1mgfnIeBmt9jU0GFsihXjAK9Ne791iUuGAkUlPr1ZD7i41Uip50QIJzB-zWpGgQWAcuqoVXZh8bSLF5n6vTIupo5vxj5bAa5kDwkSoDSenb9AtxlKD5VbdB2Plktg9T0eY1OViX_/s1600/WP_20121230_021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAsPU1mgfnIeBmt9jU0GFsihXjAK9Ne791iUuGAkUlPr1ZD7i41Uip50QIJzB-zWpGgQWAcuqoVXZh8bSLF5n6vTIupo5vxj5bAa5kDwkSoDSenb9AtxlKD5VbdB2Plktg9T0eY1OViX_/s400/WP_20121230_021.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We finally found someone to work with and were matched with a birth mother out of New Jersey. We then did the entire adoption through an agency and attorney out of New Jersey. We were matched in October of 2010, when a birth mom and her mother picked us from our profile. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My hubby was out of town when we received the call from our adoption coordinator. She said that the birth mom and her mother wanted to speak to us to make a definitive decision about choosing us to parent. I said that I really thought it was probably fine, but I needed to get in touch with my hubby first to make sure we were on the same page. It was so weird, but my hubby had flown to Philly and was driving about 70 miles from there for a conference. I was waiting to hear from him; he was driving in a noreaster! It took him hours to drive that 70 miles to his destination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwq2q6PPIImIZpqLXWsC1XWm9a5xyeU7IwBOR9pM9pKxhzNJu-48Mk3DvGt3J92UOOeq5jnB5fnK_ikdP2MFVdZ4OhvaO-lkpNVKZaRHiE938MvHChhlQ01niYkecDkV9whR4j8rIIMD0u/s1600/WP_20121230_025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwq2q6PPIImIZpqLXWsC1XWm9a5xyeU7IwBOR9pM9pKxhzNJu-48Mk3DvGt3J92UOOeq5jnB5fnK_ikdP2MFVdZ4OhvaO-lkpNVKZaRHiE938MvHChhlQ01niYkecDkV9whR4j8rIIMD0u/s400/WP_20121230_025.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I spoke with the birth mom and her mother for several hours. It seemed as though we already knew each other. I felt like when they were telling stories about their family that they must be Italian. It was just one of those feelings. I came to that conclusion from certain ways they said things, emphasis on saints, wanting us to teach the baby to pray the rosary, & naming the child after St. Michael. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When Jim returned home the next day, he spoke with the birth mom only, and it went really well. We were told by our case manager that the birth family chose us unanimously! The birth mom had a few things she wanted us to do that would go above and beyond an adoption agreement, and we agreed to them all. She wanted his name to be Michael because she had a dream that God came to her and told her she was having a boy and would name him Michael. She wanted his middle name to be Robert after her father who passed away in his 50's. She wanted him to learn to pray the rosary. She wanted him to know who his birth family is and that they love him. All was doable. We added another middle name so that he has two. He is Michael Jameson Robert M. My hubby is James so he is son of James. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-7QGmyUwztv0oTr4yPFx1-BaYIHRLDfeNn9nbmI4qgm62RIUoxxc3AA453Um7T8TlSVsW1kgqxZyltwVO0g05eZQfJD7XUWicgzliJ4EHMbHVeIcHZifLiqHmZnKZ9bmxz0gBNwbY_pB/s1600/WP_20121230_031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-7QGmyUwztv0oTr4yPFx1-BaYIHRLDfeNn9nbmI4qgm62RIUoxxc3AA453Um7T8TlSVsW1kgqxZyltwVO0g05eZQfJD7XUWicgzliJ4EHMbHVeIcHZifLiqHmZnKZ9bmxz0gBNwbY_pB/s400/WP_20121230_031.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have written about all the wonderful religious coincidences, or perhaps they were religiously meant to be. I won't go into detail since I have done that before. Many dates coincide with Saints' feast days, I prayed to St. Anthony and have been receiving rosaries and prayer cards, etc from St. Anthony's Chapel in Boston. Mick was due on the Immaculate conception, which was 12/8/10, and our hotel room number was 128 when we went to New Jersey for his birth! We were matched on the feast of the patron saint of mothers and childbirth! There is so much more!!! During the entire pregnancy, I carried with me as well as placed under my pillow at night a small satin sack that I filled with Michael's first onesie which read, "Mommy Loves Me." It also contained prayers to St. Anthony, St. Michael, a healing stone, a miracles can happen stone, a St. Michael medal, a rosary, etc. It was all held together with a satin ribbon on top. I would pray that he would be full term, healthy, and that his birth mother would be OK with everything. I prayed that she had a healthy pregnancy. I would talk to God, the Saints, Mary, Jesus, the angels and my Spirit Guide. I would also talk to Michael. I already knew him. I bonded with him immediately. I spoke to him as though he were inside of me. In a way he was though. His birth mom carried him in her womb under her heart. I carried him in my heart above my womb. I had that little prayer bag with me all the time. I still do because I still pray for Mick & his birth family. I also am very gracious. What a magnificent gift! The gift of life! We were given the gift of this sweet little person. Nothing can beat that! So I now say prayers of thanksgiving as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mick's birth mother's family is Sicilian! My family that is Italian is Sicilian! His birth father's family is Irish! My family is also Irish! Mick looks so much like my family. Everyone tells me he looks just like me! I look more like Mick's birth mom's family than my biological family!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwhKNL6Ir8nhVXY6EW-W-4sGAIvgkrITutpUYrNVTZun6lHxszq5p8JbniZcneuvIjvH9TQpj34fWT6hj6NFL-QFZNVUDl1lA2fVS0gZ634CietQOz5CTCy0Ab71HPL255z9zNbbNLVEf/s1600/WP_20121230_057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwhKNL6Ir8nhVXY6EW-W-4sGAIvgkrITutpUYrNVTZun6lHxszq5p8JbniZcneuvIjvH9TQpj34fWT6hj6NFL-QFZNVUDl1lA2fVS0gZ634CietQOz5CTCy0Ab71HPL255z9zNbbNLVEf/s400/WP_20121230_057.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mick has seen his paternal grandmother, Nana, twice. The most recent visit was in April. He has seen his birth mom, G-Ma, great-G-Ma and Aunt Christina twice and Uncle Greg once, most recently was the last visit to NJ in 2011 when Mick was only 7 months. We were there for the adoption finalization.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am reminiscing because Mick turned 2 on 12/14/12. We are heading to NJ soon to see his birth mom, G-Ma, great-G-Ma, aunt Christina and uncle Greg. We want Mick to recognize them by their names and their faces. We feel it's important Mick knows he has a whole other family that loves him, thinks about him and prays for him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBYAHiHxZXT-zcjGysaWsySyBezGJVUGkjrjrhDZ73FyHq4QVLRHj2RQU-SGLPYsovVDdpPM8NWKK8pz6tIjF3ZO8eh9VSnYihmRTkKSYSKFO9ZpUOE4Gj-ipOKsAIVJqqUQ2KC1qvorJ/s1600/WP_20121230_051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBYAHiHxZXT-zcjGysaWsySyBezGJVUGkjrjrhDZ73FyHq4QVLRHj2RQU-SGLPYsovVDdpPM8NWKK8pz6tIjF3ZO8eh9VSnYihmRTkKSYSKFO9ZpUOE4Gj-ipOKsAIVJqqUQ2KC1qvorJ/s400/WP_20121230_051.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Two is such an interesting age. He is beginning to ask questions. I had to take him to my doctor appointment the other day. He picked up a pamphlet about cord blood donations. He asked about the baby in the belly. I began to tell him that he was once in mommy's belly, but I stopped myself. Instead I said that everyone starts out in a mommy's belly until they are born. This got me thinking even more...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">...Mick needs to have a special name to call his birth mom. It's the right thing to do. After all, he has so many other names of endearment for other people he loves. For the birth grandmothers, he calls the maternal grandmother G-Ma, and the paternal grandmother Nana. He calls my mom G.G. and my dad Pops and Jim's mom GaGa. He calls his Godmommy LaLa. He calls me MomMom and Jim DadDad. He calls my friend Sam YaYa because we think he thought all my friends were named LaLa, and he couldn't pronounce the "L". LOL, or YOY! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mick received a birthday card from G-Ma, aunt Christina and his birth mom. It was signed: Love, Mommy, G-Ma and aunt Christina. I thought that would be really confusing for him. He doesn't call me mommy usually unless he is in bed and is trying to get my attention, "Mom, mom, mom, mommy, mommy, mommom, mommom, mom, mom, mommy..." However, when I am speaking to him and referring to myself, I call myself Mommy, "Mick, Mommy wants you to eat a couple bites of chicken and peas, and then you can play with your train." I did give him the card. It isn't confusing to him yet. He can't read who sent it to him right now. What I am worried about is getting to NJ and having his birth mother call herself mommy to Mick. He will likely call her out on it by saying that she is not his mommy and that I am. I would feel badly about that in a number of ways...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofpFT1rCWqsu10x6uJ-BIIAjMMJdFybpZq3Hxk3wwolLGEji6_KDzbqZs0KnCByg6KTqxzhurLeiPM7pWxHYRJEeZT0bvJ2OVWgHXcxn0YQp9eXZeG5r3-vWq3u6wQmFjQ2BNFKF0-L75/s1600/WP_20121230_058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofpFT1rCWqsu10x6uJ-BIIAjMMJdFybpZq3Hxk3wwolLGEji6_KDzbqZs0KnCByg6KTqxzhurLeiPM7pWxHYRJEeZT0bvJ2OVWgHXcxn0YQp9eXZeG5r3-vWq3u6wQmFjQ2BNFKF0-L75/s400/WP_20121230_058.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First, I would feel badly that we don't have a name already in place for the woman that carried him in her womb for 9 months. Second, I would feel terrible that Mick would be put in a situation where he would feel uncomfortable. Third, I would not want her to have a name that is less important than mommy because she did carry him for 9 months and go through labor as well as give birth. Part of me wants her to pick the name, part of me wants to see what Mick calls her after we explain who she is, but mostly I think we should show Mick the pictures of the birth family again along with the names we are calling them and then see what he calls everyone himself. We would call them, aunt Christina, uncle Greg, G-Ma, great-G-Ma, and Tummy Mummy because she carried Mick in her tummy for 9 months before MomMom and DadDad picked him up at the hospital and took him home with us so he could have a mommy and a daddy to take care of him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He is such a smart, sweet good boy. We are all so blessed to have him in our lives. He loves to learn. He proudly says his alphabet, counts to 30+ in English, to 10 in Spanish, to 7 in Chinese, and to 5 in Korean. He knows sign language, ASL not the baby signing. He signs everything people say to him & what he says back so he really understands what he's signing and isn't just memorizing. The one thing he did that really got me as a mom and brought tears to my eyes wasn't his first word, first step or when he said mama. It was just on 12/21/12. This was the day many thought was their last day on earth. It was viewed very differently in our home. We believed that it was to be a day of change for the good of mankind and our planet. On that day, we were in a hotel in Nashville, TN (Opryland). Mick was in his PJs ready for bed. We already read a book, he brushed his teeth and he was about to get into bed. Just before, he began to recite the Our Father verbally and with ASL. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen and heard at one time. Again, I will say, we are so blessed to have Mick in our lives. He knew the entire Our Father, word-for-word and all the signs as</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> well! </span><br />
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Michael was in my heart long before I ever looked at him, touched his soft baby skin, smelled his baby-fresh hair, or heard how loud his cries and his laughter could be. I felt him tugging at my heart already. I was his Mommy! I remember when we found out we were matched and knew that very night his name was to be Michael. From that day forward, he was Michael. It was Michael's room, his clothes, his bed and his toys. Michael was our little boy! Our baby boy. When I would pray at night, I would imagine what he looked like. I asked my Spirit Guide to send me something for me to see to picture him when I thought of him. We had never seen any pics of the birth parents so we had no idea what he could possibly look like even. I remember closing my eyes every night and seeing the most amazing eyes! They had every color in them, but were mostly green and brown, just like mine! The very first thing I noticed when Michael was born was when he opened those gigantic eyes of his with the super-long and dark eyelashes, they were the exact eyes I had been seeing every night as I drifted off to sleep. Hmmm...did my Spirit Guide send me a pic? Was Mick already bonding with me as well and was able to show me his eyes as I dreamed? I may never know, but the bond between a mother and a child is the strongest bond. If we were already matched in our blueprints, who's to really say what can and cannot happen or what can or cannot be true? I just know that I love him so much and always have that I often forget I didn't carry him for 9 months and give birth to him myself. Also, I have had 10 surgeries and 3 minor eye procedures. I could have easily popped out a kid or 2 during one of those joint replacement surgeries! Those were indeed awful surgeries. I believe anything could have happened and I would not have known, even labor and delivery. LOL!</div>
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<a name='more'></a>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-33238422646227619322012-10-23T13:38:00.001-04:002012-10-23T13:38:17.395-04:00Traveling with Child & Chronic Pain!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Traveling with child and chronic pain? When family treats you
differently, how do you tell your family that you are the baby's mom, and you
call the shots!? When is it too much?!?! This can be a pretty sore subject and one that is hard to face. Often when we are the mom, it is not easy to be firm with family that we want things to be done a certain way, our way! Moms with chronic pain are one thing for certain--STRONG! Being such strong females, why do we have such a hard time standing up to our family when we travel to visit them? Believe me, I get it. I have been there. I completely know what it is like to have a child who is a 1 1/2 year old, who has terrible temper tantrums. The way we handle temper tantrums in our home and when we go out and about is to let him have the tantrums, finish them out, get all the frustration out, all that emotion, all that anger, or all that for whatever reason he just was unable to handle by throwing himself onto the floor, kicking and screaming, is his only outlet right now. My husband and I only make sure when he has these tantrums that he is in a safe place where he won't hit his head or harm himself in any way, especially when we are in a public place. Many times at a store, the floor is marble or concrete, and really hard so we move him so he won't hit his head on the hard surface, or we move him from the middle of the walkway so he won't get stepped on. You get the idea.<br />
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I am told countless times by strangers when I have him at the grocery store, mall or a fast food restaurant (even a place like Applebees that is family friendly) that I should have better control of my child or that I shouldn't even bring him out if he is going to make such a fuss. I took him once to Applebees by myself when my hubby was out of town. He was 15 months old. He was so well-behaved while we waited for our food, and then he ate so well and ate some of my food too! Then while we waited for the bill, the server took a long time, and he got impatient. He began to fuss, then scream, and then he threw himself onto the floor, kicking and screaming. I dragged him out literally kicking and screaming! As we were on our way out of the restaurant, another patron sitting in a booth said, "why would you take him out to a restaurant when he acts like that?" I was so upset that first I was angry, and then I just busted out crying while driving home! <br />
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I often think to myself and talk with others about how total strangers seem to know exactly what to do in these very high anxiety moments with child, and yet they have never even spoken to us, never set foot in our home, never spent a moment's time with my incredible child who has so much more to offer than his 2 minute temper tantrums! I have been briefed on so many ways to handle it, on the RIGHT way to deal with a difficult child, on how NOT to do it, and on how I am completely and totally doing it ALL WRONG! And of course this is all by people that I had never seen before that very moment and will most likely never see again!<br />
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When speaking of my family, I will see them again and again! I will most definitely continue to get advice from my family. I don't mind advice though. As a matter of fact, sometimes advice can be helpful. What I do mind is deliberately stepping over what I do to do their own thing or to step on me to do their own thing and in the process tell me I am doing it wrong or that what I do or how I do it is worthless or useless. So how do I change this? Well, for me it is easier said than done actually. I need to work on being more assertive. When we go out of town to visit family, I need to immediately on arrival state that traveling is hard for everyone, and harder when you travel with child, and extremely hard when you travel with autoimmune arthritis diseases (and in my case with complications from the autoimmune arthritis diseases as well). I have to stress how exhausted I am and how severe the fatigue is and that my normal pain level is much greater from inactivity on the plane or in the car as well as the lifting of the suitcases and the child, the packing, etc. Traveling is stressful for everyone, and for me, it is a flare just waiting to happen. What my family needs to know is that I need for my stay with them to have as little stress as possible so that the flare that I get every time I travel will not be multiplied by additional stress.<br />
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So after explaining the fatigue and pain right off the bat, then I need to explain that I call the shots. I want to thank them for being so kind in letting us stay with them, and thank other family members for helping out with our son any chance they can, etc. I just want them to know that we do things a certain way, and we want to make sure that they stay that way while we are out of town. We want to keep things the same for our son. We don't want Mick to get confused if others begin changing things on him. It's just not the way we want things to be done. For example, the temper tantrums. When my son has a temper tantrum, and my hubby and I let him finish his tantrum without our interruption, I don't want another family member getting involved. I don't want a family member to come in and try to get him to play with something, to try distraction, to stop his crying by making him laugh or even by tickling him. When a family member comes into the room and gets involved with something like that and turns to me and asks me why I don't pick my kid up and love on him, that really hurts me! I do the best that I can do! The way we handle tantrums works for us, and it allows for Mick to experience on his own and learn by himself different emotions. Also, with my autoimmune arthritis diseases, I could never physically pick him up mid-tantrum! I would end up injuring myself and him. I would likely drop him, hurt my spine and neck, and my wrists are definitely not strong enough to try to secure him while he thrashes around!<br />
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So when I come in town to visit, and I ask you to respect the way we take care of Mick, and I ask that you do not interfere, please do not act as though this is a strange request. It seems that when dealing with a mom who has a chronic illness like autoimmune arthritis diseases, family members (and strangers in my experience) are more apt to jump in and take over. They assume you can't do certain things because of your disease, and they also feel like what you do is less than adequate at times. Our job as the mom is to up front state the way we want things done while we are visiting, and if it isn't done the way we would like it done, then we will have to stop coming, or we will have to start staying in a hotel over staying with family members. I believe if we are assertive, are strong up front, and remain very firm on what we want from them--our expectations; then I think it will be a lot more likely we will get out of it what we put into it. We will be happy with our results because we stayed STRONG! And our child will be happy too because we kept things "normal" for him. Kids don't like us to change too much on them, just like our bodies don't like us to switch things up on ourselves. So let's keep things the way they work for us and educate others on how we do things when we travel to visit them. In the end, family will respect you too for standing up for yourself for what you know is right for you and your family!<br />
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Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-13697827395912890712012-08-23T15:20:00.000-04:002012-08-23T15:20:44.507-04:00A Call to Action if you take a Specialty biologic medication!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b id="yui_3_2_0_40_1345574525258134"><u id="yui_3_2_0_40_1345574525258133"><span id="yui_3_2_0_40_1345574525258132">A Call to Action if you take a Specialty biologic medication!</span></u></b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span id="yui_3_2_0_40_1345574525258156">ARxC
is seeking patient stories from individuals in Georgia who are taking
Specialty Tier medications, either injectable or infused biologics, and
having difficulty paying the monthly cost, as set by their health
plan. They also want to hear from patients about how this growing trend
of increasing patient cost will affect their quality of life. If you,
or someone you know, takes an injectable or IV drug to control your
disease please contact Dorothy at <a href="mailto:dlg@wisdomofwellnessproject.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dlg@wisdomofwellnessproject.com</a> or call <span style="color: #0070c0;">404-633-5843.</span>
They need your stories to share with legislators and press/media to
help us get legislation to ensure your access to these drugs and make
them affordable. For more details go to ARxC's <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Specialty_Tiers.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Specialty Tier</a> website, review the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specailty_Tier_Story_Appeal.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> ARxC and Arthritis Foundation Specialty Tier Story Appeal.</a></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span id="yui_3_2_0_40_1345574525258156">I have copied and pasted all the information from their website (<a href="http://advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Specialty_Tiers.html">http://advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Specialty_Tiers.html</a>)
to make it easiest for you to attain all the information as quickly as
possible and to submit your story. Please take the time to submit your
story. This is a Call to Action! It is very important! Please read and
write your story. Thank you very much for your time! </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Take a stand to ensure full access to specialty drugs</b></span><br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">In
recent years, health care insurers have developed Specialty Tiers,
otherwise known as Tier IV, V, and VI, a new classification of specialty
drugs that requires health insurance beneficiaries to pay 2<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">0 - 35% of the cost of the drug. </span>This approach is markedly different from traditional drug tiers with transparent and f</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ixed
co-payments, ranging from a Tier I generic at $10, to a Tier II
preferred brand at $30, and a Tier III brand name drug at $50. Most c</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ommonly
health insurance companies use this new classification for infused or
injected drugs prescribed and administered to patients</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> with acute and chronic diseases, such as </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), AIDS/HIV</span><span style="font-size: 16px;">, pso</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">riasis, Crohn’s disease, immune disorders, hepatitis, anemia, and certain types of cancer.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><img align="right" alt="" height="133" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/696d915774d306597f257dbb7cea53e9_g9dd_ti3z.png" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" width="200" /></span> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">On September 13, 2011 a group of</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"> 17 voluntary health agencies attended a briefing hosted and facilitated by ARxC </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and Georgia Bio to</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> learn <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_What_do_they_mean_for_Georgia.pdf" target="_blank">how Specialty Tiers was impacting Georgia</a>. </span></span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Committed to ensure full access to quality care for their members, all 17 voluntary health agencies formed the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_Coalition.pdf" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers Coalition</a> to inform legislators of the dangers of Specialty </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tiers cost-shifting and to take steps to address the issue. </span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_Coalition.pdf" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers Coalition</a>
has written a letter to Georgia's Pharmacy Caucus asking for their
support to stop this cost-shifting and discriminatory practice that make
these life-saving, life-enhancing medications cost-prohibitive for
patients.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specailty_Tier_Story_Appeal.pdf" target="_blank"><i>Call to Action</i> for all Georgians</a> was
launched by Coalition members this year to gather stories from
patients taking Specialty Tier medications and having difficulty paying
the monthly cost of their drugs, as set by their health plan. The
Coalition is also eager to hear from patients and their families how
this growing trend is affecting their quality of life.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_Coalition.pdf" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers Coalition</a> is also collaborating with patient advocacy groups across the country to support the passing of the <a href="http://www.arthritis.org/media/advocacy/Access%20to%20Medications.pdf" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">Patient Access to Critical Therapies Act (PACTA)</a>, <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">legislation sponsored by <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">Rep. David McKinley (R-WV)</span> that
serves to address the restrictions Specialty Tiers impose on access to
quality care for the acute and chronically ill, and <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr3613ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr3613ih.pdf" target="_blank">H.R. 361</a>, proposed legislation sponsored by Rep. Hank Johnson to stop Specialty Tier cost-shifting for Medicare beneficiaries.</span><br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
The Coalition will continue its efforts to ask for legislation that will
allow all Georgians to have full access to their medications without
imposing drug tiers based on expense or disease categories.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Please see the Specialty Tier Coalition publications below for more information on the Coalition's activities. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <b>_________________________________________________</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px;"><b style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Respond to this</span><span style="font-size: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px;"> CALL TO ACTION. Stop the increase in cost of s</span><i>pecialty tier</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px;"> drugs.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">1.</b><b> Know the facts.</b> Read the Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia's fact sheet "<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_What_do_they_mean_for_Georgia.pdf" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers: What do they mean for Georgia?</a></b>" to know the facts about specialty tiers and how they restrict access to medication for patients with chronic diseases.<br />
<br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;">2. </b><b>Share your story. </b>Tell the Georgia community </span></span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">how the increase in the cost of your medication due to Specialty Tiers classification has impacted you or your loved ones.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Share your story on the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Story_Submission.html" shape="rect" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: orange;">Specialty Tiers Story Submission</span></b></a> webpage or email your<span style="line-height: 18px;"> story directly to ARxC <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">at</span><br />
<a href="mailto:dlg@wisdomofwellnessproject.com" shape="rect">dlg@wisdomofwellnessproject.com</a>.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If you have any questions or concerns please contact ARxC directly.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Unsure what to say in your story? Read <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/heidi_s_story.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: orange;">Heidi's Story</span></b></a> for an example of how specialty tiers could affect Heidi's ability to manage her </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">Rheumatoid Arthritis.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;">3.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Call on your representatives. </b></span></b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Contact your members of congress and ask them to support the <a href="http://www.arthritis.org/media/advocacy/Access%20to%20Medications.pdf" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">Patient Access to Critical Therapies Act (PACTA)</a>. Please fill out and mail or email a copy of the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Promoting_Affordable_Access_to_Care_Petition__2.doc" target="_blank">Promoting Affordable Access to Care Petition</a> or go directly to the <a href="http://www.rheumatology.org/advocacy/actioncenter.asp" target="_blank">ACR Legislative Action Center</a> to </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #222222;">take action on this critical issue today.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"> 4. <b>Support our efforts.</b><b style="font-weight: normal;"> Help to mobilize the Georgia-wide effort by donating to ARxC. Go to</b></span></span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"> our <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Please_Donate.html" shape="rect" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: 16px;"><b>donation page</b></span></a> to make your tax-deductible contribution today.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>________________________________________________</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia appreciates the American College
of Rheumatology’s efforts in securing legislative responsibility to
this vital issue. The Coalition also acknowledges the National
Arthritis Foundation’s commitment to seeking a solution to this
excessive cost-shifting barrier to affordable access to biologics and
infused medications for arthritis and all patients suffering from
chronic diseases.</span></span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-size: 13px;" /> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span><br />
<br />
</span> <span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">ARxC and the Specialty Tier Coalition supports Representative Hank Johnson and his </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr3613ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr3613ih.pdf" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">Medicare legislation on specialty tiers</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">. </span></span><br />
<br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">Ask your <a href="http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/" target="_blank">federal representative</a> to vote in favor of Representative Johnson's legislation to end the rise in cost of medications for the chronically ill. </b><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"> More information available at:</span><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<ul style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://gapolitico.com/2011/05/13/rep-johnson-to-medicare-clarify-why-%e2%80%98specialty-tier%e2%80%99-drug-threshold-remains-600/" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Rep. Johnson to Medicare: Clarify why 'specialty tier' drug threshold remains $600</span> </a></span></span></span></span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://hankjohnson.house.gov/2011/12/rep-johnson-seeks-relief-for-chronically-ill-seniors.shtml" target="_blank">Rep. Johnson seeks relief for chronically ill seniors</a></span></li>
</span></span></span></ul>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">________________________________________________</span></span><br />
</b> <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><br />
Specialty Tier Coalition and ARxC Publications:<br />
</span></span></span> <span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
<ul style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ST_Talking_Points_Core_Group_June_14__2012.pdf" target="_blank">Specialty Tier Talking Points</a> (June 14, 2012)</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Advocacy_Specialty_Tiers_Coalition_Update_3.16.12.pdf" target="_blank">Advocacy Update from the Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia</a> (March 16, 2012) </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Specialty Tier Coalition Fact Sheet - <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_What_do_they_mean_for_Georgia.pdf" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers: What do they mean for Georgia?</a></span> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_Coalition_Update_for_website_1.30.12__1_.pdf" target="_blank">January 2012 Specialty Tier Coalition Update</a></span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specailty_Tier_Story_Appeal.pdf" target="_blank">ARxC Specialty Tier Story Appeal</a></span></li>
</span></span></ul>
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Additional resources:</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">
<ul style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<li style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/GRC_Specialty_Tier_GA_Tech_Final_Report_Regulating_the_Specialty_Tier.pdf" target="_blank">Regulating the Specialty Tier in Georgia: Final Report compiled for the National MS Society-Georgia Chapter</a> - Georgia Tech Public Policy Task Force 2012</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-expensive-drugs-20120529,0,415311,print.story" target="_blank">Insurers forcing patients to pay more for costly specialty drugs</a> - LA Times - May 29, 2012</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BioCentury video: </span><a href="http://www.biocenturytv.com/player/1576037741001/1575734700001" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Specialty Tiers </span></a><a href="http://www.biocenturytv.com/player/1576037741001/1575734700001" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Part 1 - Dangers of Specaity Tier Co-Insurance </span></a></span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">BioCentury video:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.biocenturytv.com/player/1576037741001/1575734699001" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers Part 2 - Creating a Cap on Co-Insurance</a></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
</span></span><br />
<ul style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">
<li style="color: black; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/health/states-seek-to-curb-exorbitant-drug-costs-incurred-by-patients.html?_r=2&ref=health" target="_blank">States Seek Curb on Patient Bills for Costly Drugs</a> - New York Times - April 12, 2012</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/GRC_Specialty_Tier_Delaware_Specialty_Tier_Report_1_.pdf" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">Specialty-Tier Prescription Drugs: Report to the General Assembly</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> - Delaware Health Care Commission - March 15, 2012</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> </span><br />
</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.arthritis.org/position-statatement-excessive-cost-sharing/" target="_blank">Arthritis
Foundation Position Statement: Excessive Cost-Sharing (Specialty
Tiers) for High-Cost Medications Represent a Barrier to Patient Access</a> - Arthritis Foundation - November 19, 2011</span></li>
</span></span>
<li style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.georgiahealthnews.com/2011/09/lifesaving-biologics-out-reach/" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Lifesaving drugs 'out of reach' for many</span> </a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>- Georgia Health News, Andy Miller - September 12, 2011</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/August/22/Workers-Squeezed-As-Employers-Pass-Along-High-Costs-Of-Specialty-Drugs.aspx" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Workers Squeezed As Employers Pass Along High Costs of Specialty Drugs</span></a> - Kaiser Health News and USA Today - August 22, 2011</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://thepinksheet.elsevierbi.com/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1216099165884&pagename=FDCReports/Page/PageNavigatorWrapper&actionType=upsell&desturl=http%3A%2F%2Fthepinksheet.elsevierbi.com%2Fcs%2FSatellite%3Fc=Page%26cid=1216099165884%26pagename=FDCReports%252FPage%252FPageNavigatorWrapper%26resultpage=ArticleDetail%3AArticleDetailWrapper%26jid=pink%26pii=00110822009%26pubdate=20110822%26articlename=State%2520Bills%2520Setting%2520Specialty%2520Tier%2520Limits%2520Await%2520Health%2520Reform%2520Developments%26elsca1=rss" shape="rect" target="_blank">State Bills Setting Specialty Tier Limits Await Health Reform Developments</a> - The Pink Sheet - August 22, 2011</span> </li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/4/article/34945/" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Specialty tiers deny fair health care</span></a> - </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Coastal Courier </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Guest Columnist, Dorothy Leone-Glasser - August 17, 2011</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-hk-prescription-drug-tiers-20110811,0,4484161.story" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Insurers raising co-pays for expensive drugs</span></a> - </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Sun Sentinel - August 15, 2011</span></span></span></span> </li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/NMQF_Specialty_Tiers_Report.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers: Unequal Treatment</a> - </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">National Minority Quality Forum (Issue Brief 3) - August 9, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></li>
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<li style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px;"><a href="http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=272294&type=newswires" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span _face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">“Substantial Percentage” of Medicare Beneficiaries Are Uninformed on Out-of-Pocket Costs for Specialty Tier</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></a></span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=272294&type=newswires" shape="rect" style="font-size: 16px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Prescription Drugs</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 11px;"> - </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Insurance News - August 9, 2011</span> </li>
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<li style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/AF_SE_POsition_on_Specialty_Tiers.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers/Coinsurance Position Statement</a> - </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">SE Region Advocacy Volunteer Chair - </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Arthritis Foundation - August 8, 2011</span> </li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/CAN/chapter-news/chapter-news-detail/index.aspx?nid=5005" shape="rect" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span></span></a><a href="http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/CAN/chapter-news/chapter-news-detail/index.aspx?nid=5005" shape="rect" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Landmark
Patient Protection Legislation to End "Specialty Tier" Health
Insurance Coverage Passes in California Assembly Health Committee</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Northern California Chapter - </span><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">May 4, 2011</span></span></span> </li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/health&id=7950299" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Bill aims to stop specialty tiers prescription drugs</span></a> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ABC N</span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">WGME 13 Top Story </span><a href="http://www.wgme.com/news/top-stories/stories/iframe_vid_9731.shtml" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">"Move Underway in Maine to Stop Insurance Companies from Passing Medication Costs Back to Consumers"</span></a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Sun Sentinel's report "</span><a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-hk-prescription-drug-tiers-20110811,0,4484161.story" shape="rect" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Patients with insurance hikes can not receive proper IV drugs</span></a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">."</span> </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="color: black;">CALL TO ACTION:</span> </b>Share
your story of how an increase in the cost of co-payments for specialty
tier drugs would impact you and your access to the specialty tier
drugs that you rely on. Go to <span style="color: orange; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Story_Submission.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Specialty Tiers Story Submission</span></a> </span><span style="color: orange;">to submit your story.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #f3b41a; font-size: 18px;">We are the Advocates for Responsible Care</span><br />
</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Advocates for Responsible Care empower individuals to achieve their
maximum wellness with a strong voice as health care advocates,
effectively reducing cultural incompetency and health care delivery
disparity.</span></i></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><i><br />
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</i></b><b><i> <img align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/arxc_and_vol-small.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px;" /></i></b></span> <br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">We
are a 501(c)3 advocacy organization that offers services to inform the
public, especially the patients, of all health care advocacy issues.
We advocate on behalf of ensuring full access to medical care for all
Georgians.<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal;"><b><u>Specialty Tier Call to Action</u></b></span><br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Advocates for Responsible Care and Arthritis Foundation, SE Region have initiated a <i style="font-weight: normal;">Call to Action</i>
for all Georgians. We are seeking patient stories from individuals who
are taking Specialty Tier medications, and having difficulty paying
the monthly cost, as set by their health plan. We also want to hear
from patients about how this growing trend of increasing patient cost
will affect their quality of life. For more details go to ARxC's <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Specialty_Tiers.html">Specialty Tier</a> website, review the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specailty_Tier_Story_Appeal.pdf" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">ARxC and Arthritis Foundation Specialty Tier Story Appeal</a> or go directly to <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Story_Submission.html">Specialty Tier Story Submission</a> to share your story.<br />
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<b>_________________________________________________</b> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal;"><b><u>ARxC Advocacy Priorities </u></b></span><br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: -webkit-left;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Issues_2E2I.html" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Advancing Health Care Reform in Georgia</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In
2014 every American will be required to have health insurance as a
commitment to the health and well-being of their community. ARxC is
leading efforts to ensure the new health insurance options made
available to Georgians meet the benefit and service needs of the people.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In support of the Affordable Care Act, ARxC is working with Georgians to develop a best practice health insurance model. <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Issues_2E2I.html">Read more</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Specialty_Tiers.html" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Specialty Tiers</span></b></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ARxC is leading an initiative
in partnership with Georgia Bio, the Arthritis Foundation, and 15
other health care organizations to stop high co-payments/co-insurance
for Specialty Tier medications in Georgia. <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Specialty_Tiers.html">Read more</a><br />
<br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Dialysis_Crisis.html" shape="rect" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Dialysis Crisis</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">or (</span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;">en </span></span><span class="definition" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">español)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="color: orange; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Di_lisis_crisis.html"><span style="color: orange;">Diálisis Crisis</span></a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
ARxC organized in August 2009 when Grady Hospital closed the only
dialysis center providing care to uninsured End-Stage Renal Disease
(ESRD) patients in Georgia. Over the years, ARxC has fought </span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">through the court system and led negotiations with Grady Hospital and dialysis companies</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">to ensure the immigrant patients in Atlanta continue to receive the dialysis treatments they need to survive.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </span><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Dialysis_Crisis.html" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Read more</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">/</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Di_lisis_crisis.html" style="color: blue;">Leer m</a><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Di_lisis_crisis.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">á</a><u>s</u>.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<b style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/S.T.A.R.html"><span style="color: orange;">S.T.A.R.S.</span></a><br />
</span></b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">ARxC
provides a women's division that serves as a dynamic community of
advocates that brings awareness and takes action on all wellness
issues. </span></span></span><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/S.T.A.R.html" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Read more</span></a><br />
<b style="color: black;">_________________________________________________</b><br />
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<b style="color: black;"><u><span style="font-size: 18px;">Stay Engaged</span></u></b><br />
</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">To remain updated on ARxC developments visit our facebook group page </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Advocates-for-Responsible-Care/202782869735551#%21/pages/Advocates-for-Responsible-Care/202782869735551?sk=wall" shape="rect" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;"><b>Advocates for Responsible Care</b></span></a><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </span>or subscribe to receive the ARxC newsletter and advocacy updates through the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/How_You_Can_Help.html"><span style="color: orange;"><b>Contact Us</b></span></a> page.<br />
</span></span><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><b> _________________________________________________</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">ARxC Newsletter Updates</b><b style="font-weight: normal;">:</b><br />
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<li><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Advocacy_Specialty_Tiers_Coalition_Update_3.16.12.pdf" target="_blank"><b>March 2012 Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia Update</b></a></span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;">
<li style="font-weight: normal;"><b><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_Coalition_Update_for_website_1.30.12__1_.pdf" target="_blank">January 2012 </a><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_Coalition_of_Georgia_Update_1_" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia Update</a></b></li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Summer_newsletter_8-18-11-Final.pdf" target="_blank">Summer 2011 (released August 18, 2011)</a></span></li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Newsletter_May_2011.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank">May, 2011 </a></span></li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Newsletter_April_2011.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">April, 2011</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></li>
</span></ul>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>ARxC Press Releases:</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span></span></b></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<ul><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">
<li style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Patients_are_Reassured_and_Thankful_9.8.11.pdf" target="_blank">September 8, 2011 Press Release - ARxC Patients are Reassured and Thankful</a></span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><b><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Denied_Dialysis_at_Grady_Hospital_9.4.11.pdf" target="_blank">September 4, 2011 Press Release - ARxC Patients Denied Emergency Dialysis Treatment from Grady Hospital</a></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Turned_away_from_Fresenius_9.1.11.pdf" target="_blank">September 1, 2011 Press Release</a><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Turned_away_from_Fresenius_9.1.11.pdf" target="_blank"> - ARxC Grady Dialysis Patients Turned Away From Fresenius</a></span></b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Left_Without_Dialysis_Treatment_8.31.11.pdf" target="_blank">August 31, 2011 Press Release - ARxC Grady Dialysis Patients left without Dialysis Treatment</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Press_Release_ARxC_to_GHS_accountaable_4.3.11.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank">April 3, 2011 Press Release - ARxC Stands With Commissioners to Hold Grady Health Systems </a></span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Settlement_Press_Release_9.14.10.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">September 14, 2010 Press Release - Majority of ARxC Dialysis Patients will have health home for one </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">year</span></a> </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Negotiations_Press_Release_8.31.10.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">August
31, 2010 Press Release - DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson assures
ARxC's 33 Dialysis Patients they will have a health home</span></a> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_PRESS__RELEASE_8.27.10_1_.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">August
27, 2010 Press Release - ARxC Calls on Elected Officials to Respond as
Deadline for Dialysis Care Draws Near for 33 ARxC Patients </span></a> </span> <ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Ga._Rep._Letterfor_HRC_8.27.10.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">Letter to the Elected Officials</span></a><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Precautionary_Measures_Adopted__Human_Rights_Comm.1_.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">Precautionary Measures of OAS</span></a> </span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Press_Release_8.24.10_1_.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">August 24, 2010 Press Release - After One Year of Negotiations, No Resolution for 33 ARxC Patients to Receive Ongoing Care</span></a> </span></li>
</span></span></span></span></b></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><br />
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<h1>
<span style="color: orange; font-size: 18px;">Board of Directors</span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Dorothy</b></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b> Leone-Glasser</b></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">, Executive Director </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="mailto:dlg@wisdomofwellnesssproject.com" shape="rect"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>dlg@wisdomofwellnesssproject.com</b></span></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> 404-633-5843<br />
</span></span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b> </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Hon. Lindsay Jones, Ex Officio, Legal Consultant<br />
</span></span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="mailto:lrjones@emory.edu" shape="rect"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>lrjones@emory.edu</b></span></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b> <span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></span></span></span>Haley Stolp, Program Development Director<br />
<a href="mailto:+haley.stolp@gmail.com" target="_blank">haley.stolp@gmail.com</a><br />
</b></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
Ira Katz, Corporate Networking and Events<br />
</span></span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="mailto:ipkatz@yahoo.com" shape="rect"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>ipkatz@yahoo.com</b></span></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> <br />
</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b> <span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">
</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">The <i>Advocates for Responsible Care</i>
empowers individuals to achieve their maximum wellness with a strong
voice as health care advocates effectively reducing cultural
incompetency and health care delivery disparity.</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">
</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span> <span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/" shape="rect"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org</b></span></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.dialysiscrisis.webs.com/" shape="rect"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>www.dialysiscrisis.webs.com</b></span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;">1434 Brook Valley Lane NE<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Atlanta</span></span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"><b>,GA 30324<br />
</b></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b> <br />
TEL: 404-633-5843 <br />
FAX: 404-321-5952</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Who we are</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><img alt="" height="600" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/arxc_arthritis_walk_ae9f.jpg" style="height: 258px; width: 342px;" width="800" /><br />
The Advocates for Responsible Care is a non-profit organization that
functions as an alliance of health care professionals, patient
advocates, and human rights specialists dedicated to the cause of reducing cultural incompetency and health care delivery disparity. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<u><b>Board of Directors</b></u><br />
<br />
</span></span><img alt="" height="113" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/new_picture__1_.png" style="height: 142px; width: 128px;" width="121" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Dorothy Leone-Glasser, RN, HCC</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">President</span></span></span></span></b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'comic sans ms'; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'comic sans ms'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">dlg@wisdomofwellnessproject.com</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dorothy
Leone-Glasser, RPN, HHC, has lived with systemic lupus for over
thirty-five years. As a result, she has overcome two forms of cancer,
disabling arthritis, kidney failure, a coma, heart attack, and two
strokes. During this time she graduated from a wheelchair to crutches
to ultimately walking with her own two feet. Between the ages of 20 and
37, Dorothy received three death sentences imposed by her doctors.
Today she is not only alive, but she is living well and paving the way
to the future of wellness as President and CEO of the Advocates for
Responsible Care (ARxC)<i>, </i>a non-profit wellness and advocacy organization.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">
As Dorothy drove her wheelchair, she also drove her career. Dorothy’s
philosophy, “Illness lives in the mind, plays out in the body, and
comes to a place of peace in the spirit of wellness” was the compelling
energy behind her success.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">She
earned degrees in counseling, nursing, and theology to master the art
of the mind, body, and spirit connection. Although this holistic
approach to healthcare is popular today, for many years Dorothy has been
a leader in its implementation through her private practice in
counseling and public speaking. Empowering others with her personal
philosophy and raising a strong voice of advocacy, Dorothy has taught
countless others how to “live wise and live well.”</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As
she simultaneously conquered her personal challenges and enlightened
individuals with chronic illness, Dorothy also designed and delivered
the life-style engineering technology tools that her patients need to
apply her lessons. One of these is a comprehensive integrated wellness
and stress management program so aptly called, “The Coping Program®.”
This program won Dorothy the Outstanding Patient-Community Service
Program Award by the National Arthritis Foundation in 1990. In 1993,
the Arthritis Foundation presented her with the Dorothy Day Humanitarian
Award for pioneering this program. Finally, in 1998, when the
Arthritis Foundation was celebrating its 50<sup>th</sup> year Anniversary, it awarded her the honor of being one of only 50 selected <i>Heroes Living with Arthritis</i> and appointed her one of three ambassadors representing all of the heroes nationwide.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Dorothy is a hero among us. Not only for what she has endured and
overcome, but also for what she has consistently and generously given to
others over the years. She is a twenty-nine year member of the Board
of Directors at the Arthritis Foundation. She currently serves as the
Advocacy and Disparities populations Chair on the Leadership Council for
the SE Region of AF. Dorothy provides advocacy consulting to numerous
organizations, societies and patient groups. She facilitates an ongoing
patient group ARxC STARS that empowers its members to promote wellness
and prevention practices along with being active healthcare advocates.
She has published countless materials educating patients about
harmonizing the mind, body and spirit. Dorothy is frequently seen and
heard on TV, radio, and print media. She promotes using nutraceuticals
as part of a complete wellness plan.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After
completing her degrees from City University in New York, Dorothy
completed a three-year internship in Chronic Illness and Family
Counseling from Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York. She is also
ordained and certified with a ministry degree in Comparative
Religions, in the order of St. Francis. Dorothy resides in Atlanta,
Georgia where she founded the <i>Wisdom of Wellness Project, LLC. </i>She is now founder and the CEO of the <i>Advocates for Responsible Care (ARxC) </i>a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization<i>.</i></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On
July 22, 2005, Dorothy was asked to speak to a crowd of 4,200
citizens, legislators, and community and civic leaders, at the Atlanta
Civic Center, in Atlanta, GA, with President George W. Bush. They
discussed the new Medicare Modernization Act and Dorothy’s experiences
and insights educating people on the new Medicare benefits and
enrollment for Part D prescription drug coverage.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once
a full time wellness counselor, Dorothy is now a motivational speaker,
author, media personality, and resilient healthcare advocate. She
regularly holds seminars on Manifesting Wellness, The Wisdom of Stress
Reduction, and Advocacy: Mission Possible, Strengthening Support and
Advocacy Groups and The Wisdom of Internal and Environmental Health. She
testifies before congressional committees and local government Boards
on health care advocacy issues and has been recognized by the National
Association of Professional Women.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Along with her ARxC Program Director, Dorothy is currently writing an
Advocacy and Medical Insurance Wellness Guide. Components of ARxC’s
Georgia Wellness Initiative will be part of the prevention and wellness
incentives in a new best practice template for health insurance; <i>ARxC Medical Insurance Collective for Georgia</i>. ARxC is conducting a Health Plan Survey on line to assess what Georgians need and want from their health insurance plan. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Advocates for Responsible Care have always been actively involved in
advocating for full access to medications and medical care with an
emphasis on reducing health disparities. In 2011, ARxC, with Georgia
Bio, took the lead to organize the Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia
consisting of 18 health organizations, who will assist in implementing
legislation that will end the dangerous cost-shifting practice of
patients paying prohibitive out of pocket amounts for their life-saving
prescription drugs.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As
the representative of the patients of the Grady Dialysis Crisis, ARxC
directs negotiations of their long term treatments and working toward a
permanent solution to their care. In December 2010, Dorothy received
the Mundo Hispanico Award, Amigo de los Hispanos, for her work in
advocating for dialysis patients who were in jeopardy of dying without
dialysis treatment.<br />
<br />
ARxC continues to lead the call to action for Specialty Tiers
Legislation and a best practice template for a Health Insurance
collective for Georgia.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Philosophy</b>: Illness lives in the mind, plays out in the body and comes to a place of peace in your spirit where wellness survives. </span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Mission</span></b><span style="font-size: 16px;">:
To empower individuals to achieve their maximum wellness with a strong
voice as health care advocates effectively reducing cultural
incompetency and health care delivery disparity.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida fax', serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/DLG__Bio__3.2012__1_.pdf" target="_blank">Click here</a> for Dorothy's full biography.</span><br />
</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<br />
<img alt="" height="111" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/lj_pic.jpg" style="height: 130px; width: 141px;" width="141" /><br />
</span></span><b><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Hon. Lindsay Jones</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">E</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;">x Officio, Legal Consultant</span><br />
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</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Judge Lindsay R.M. Jones earned a bachelor's degree from the University
of Minnesota in 1988 and a JD from the University of Minnesota Law
School in 1991. He currently serves as the associate director for the
Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution at Emory School of Law and
oversees the program administration for the Kessler-Edison Program for
Trial Techniques. In addition Prof. Jones teaches a fall and spring
semester public interest workshop entitled "Access to Justice." Prior to
coming to Emory in the fall of 2006, Jones was engaged in a private law
practice focusing on civil rights and was at the University of
Minnesota Law School, where he was a senior fellow with the Institute on
Race &amp; Poverty and taught in the areas of ethics and access to
justice as an adjunct professor of law. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Jones
previously served as an assistant attorney general for the State of
Minnesota, in which capacity he served as a member of a civil rights
advisory committee to the Minnesota Attorney General. He also served as
the former deputy director and director of advocacy for the Legal Aid
Society of North Carolina. As a trial and appellate litigator in private
practice, he has appeared before federal and state courts in several
states, including the Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh U.S. Appellate
Circuits. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">In
addition to serving as the Center's associate director and as an
adjunct professor of law, Judge Jones serves as a Municipal Court Judge
for the City of Decatur, Georgia, and as an Associate Magistrate Judge
for DeKalb County, Georgia.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">
<b><img align="null" alt="" height="192" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/ef5c53906f966d2a9c4dfeefc5ff7b39_3ifx.png" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px;" width="167" /><br />
</b></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Haley Stolp, MPH<br />
Program Development Director </b> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Haley
earned her Masters in Public Health in Behavioral Sciences and Health
Education, with a certificate in Socio-Contextual Determinants of
Health, <span style="font-size: 16px;">from Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. </span>Dedicated
to the mission of achieving health equity, Haley has served as an ARxC
patient advocate since ARxC was established in 2009. She has served as
a volunteer Board Member since 2010.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
In August 2010, Haley was recognized as one of three Emerging Health
Leaders at the National Summit of Clinicians for Healthcare Justice for
her commitment to health justice and her contribution in advancing
ARxC's effort to extend dialysis treatment for undocumented Atlanta
residents (see <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Dialysis_Crisis.html">Grady Dialysis Crisis</a>).
Upon her graduation from Rollins School of Public Health in 2011,
Haley was the recipient of the James W. Alley Award for "Outstanding
Service to Disadvantaged Populations" as a result of her commitment to
help marginalized and under-served communities.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">
Haley’s dedication to advocate on behalf of all people with inadequate
access to quality health care has been the cornerstone of her career
path.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>In 2006, Haley
travelled abroad to Ghana where she volunteered as a health educator
with the UNHCR to reduce transmission of malaria. Following the
completion of her B.S. in Biology from the University of California,
Santa Cruz, Haley worked as a Staff Research Associate in Dr. Susan
Fisher's lab at the University of California, San Francisco before
moving to Atlanta, Georgia and becoming engaged in the Grady Dialysis
Crisis. Throughout her schooling at Rollins School of Public Health,
Haley served as an integral administrator and consultant for all ARxC
public health advocacy initiatives.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
Haley is currently working as a public health research fellow to improve
access and utilization of preventive services for populations
disproportionately burdened by HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Sexually
Transmitted Diseases, and Viral Hepatitis. <br />
<br />
Grounded in her mission to dissolve health disparities and promote
health equity, Haley's career interests are focused on working with
Native organizations to address the epidemic of alcoholism and
adolescent suicide that disproportionately plagues tribal communities.</span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span> <span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span> </span> </span></span><br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" height="671" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/img013_copy.jpg" style="height: 164px; width: 119px;" width="364" /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Ira Paul Katz</span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Director of Corporate Networking, Events<br />
</span></span></span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="mailto:ipkatz@yahoo.com" shape="rect"><span style="color: blue;">ipkatz@yahoo.com</span></a><br />
<br />
</span></span>After attending the University of Baltimore, where he was elected student senator, Ira joined VISTA upon graduation.</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
Working with, and sponsored by the American Postal Workers Union, Ira
developed a plan and coordinated the renovation of several senior
citizens homes in Atlanta. Using volunteers from schools, religious
organizations, prison inmates and others, he coordinated a grass roots
effort with Project MOVE to accomplish necessary home repairs. These
repairs saved the owners from being displaced due to code violations.
After VISTA, Ira attended Columbia Southern School of Law. In addition,
Ira obtained a Real Estate license.</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
For several years, Ira has enjoyed staying active in current issues and events and has
worked on a professional level with several state agencies, utilities
and businesses. Working closing with the Georgia Department of
Industry, Trade and Tourism, Ira was instrumental in relocating several
manufacturing companies to the Atlanta metro area. He has also worked
with other major companies and corporations in other states to assist
in their relocation and industry centered needs. He is well known for
offering a comprehensive, enthusiastic and committed service to all his
clients. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Ira
has an extensive associate’s base in Atlanta, and its surrounding
areas, of buyers, investors, venders, fellow brokers and associates,
business and community contacts. He has worked well with DeKalb County
officials for re-zoning, allowing for high quality renovated homes for
moderate income citizens. Also being an investor, he understands the
dynamics of working with small and large business groups. He has the
talent and experience to resolve matters before problems emerge. He
remains loyal to the client’s satisfaction and outcomes of any
transaction and negotiation.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">For
Ira, working for and with ARxC is personal. His father died of End
Stage Renal Failure after receiving dialysis treatment for many years.
Ira brings his passion and ability to work with different groups to the
foray of the Advocates for Responsible Care. He has opened his home and
heart to the patients and families of the Dialysis Crisis; always
ready to help. Once again, he has been influential in by bringing
knowledgeable and interested members to the table to assist ARxC’s new
development of a best practice model for healthcare insurance. As a
Board Member of ARxC, his shared excitement and enthusiasm of a
realistic vision for this organization is welcomed.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="display: block;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">ARxC Projects</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Issues_2E2I.html" shape="rect" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Health Reform in Georgia</span></b></a> -
To advance health reform in Georgia, ARxC is developing a
best-practice model of health insurance for Georgia residents. We are
currently leading a community needs assessment to identify what Georgia
residents want included in their health insurance plans and the role
that they are willing to play as stakeholders in their health insurance
plans. This data will help to inform the development of the model.<br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Specialty_Tiers.html" shape="rect"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Specialty Tiers</b></span></a> - As part of the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_Coalition.pdf" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers Coalition</a>, ARxC is advocating to end the cost-shifting of specialty tiers drugs to the patient. <br />
</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Dialysis_Crisis.html" shape="rect"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
Dialysis Crisis</b></span></a> - Since it's establishment in 2009, ARxC
has been continuously fighting to find ongoing dialysis treatments for
Grady Hospital's uninsured and undocumented patients .<br />
</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Di_lisis_crisis.html" shape="rect"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<b>Di<span style="color: orange;">á</span>lisis Crisis</b></span></a> (En <span class="hps">español) </span>- <span class="hps">Desde
su creación en 2009, ARxC no ha dejado de luchar para encontrar los
tratamientos de diálisis para pacientes no asegurados y indocumentados
originarios de Grady Hospital y con enfermedad renal en etapa terminal.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<b><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/S.T.A.R.html" shape="rect"><b><span style="color: orange;">S.T.A.R.S.</span></b></a> </b><span style="color: black;">- </span><span style="color: black;">ARxC provides
a women's division that serves as a dynamic community of advocates
that brings awareness and takes action on all wellness issues.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Advocacy Action</span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-style: normal;"><img alt="" height="337" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/99d677975fbd678f6ed166467e773745.png" width="456" /><br />
_________________________________________________<br />
<br />
CALL TO ACTION: EXPAND MEDICAID IN GEORGIA</b><br />
<i>July 16, 2012<br />
</i><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">The
Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (PPACA) state level
components will benefit all Georgians. One is a Medicaid expansion that
will benefit over 600,000 Georgia residents, and the other is a
free-market insurance exchange for competitively-priced private
insurance plans.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Governor
Deal and his administration oppose this act when they need
to demonstrate health care leadership by implementing these beneficial
reforms. The citizens of Georgia cannot be at a disadvantage for their
wellness and care.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Make
it clear to the entire country that Georgia cares about the wellness of
its residents and sign on to tell the Governor to fully implement the
state-level components of the PPACA now.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">ARxC has already added our name, Please add yours.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Please go to <a href="http://signon.org/sign/georgia-implement-the.fb11?source=s.fb&r_by=3099214" target="_blank">http://signon.org/sign/<wbr></wbr>georgia-implement-the.fb11?<wbr></wbr>source=s.fb&amp;r_by=3099214</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<b style="font-style: normal;">CALL TO ACTION ON SPECIALTY TIERS</b></span><br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">March 16, 2012</i><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">is currently seeking congressional co-sponsorship for the <a href="http://www.arthritis.org/media/advocacy/Access%20to%20Medications.pdf" style="color: black;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">Patient Access to Critical Therapies Act (PACTA)</span></a>,
legislation to address the restrictions Specialty Tiers impose on
access to quality care for acute and chronically ill patients</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> (for more information see the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Advocacy_Specialty_Tiers_Coalition_Update_3.16.12.pdf" target="_blank">March 16, 2012 Advocacy Update from the Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia</a></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">).</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-size: 13px;" /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">ARxC
and The Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia ask you to contact your
members of congress and ask them to support this important legislation.
Please go to</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> <a href="http://www.rheumatology.org/advocacy/actioncenter.asp">http://www.rheumatology.org/advocacy/actioncenter.asp</a></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> to take action on this critical issue.</span></span></span><b style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</b> <b style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px;">_________________________________________________</span></b><b><br />
</b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Empowering the Patient Seminar</span></b><br />
<br />
Host a seminar on patient empowerment led by ARxC President, Dorothy Leone-Glasser. </span><img align="right" alt="" height="191" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/05e852352324cadaa0db98260c74771e_kfaf.png" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px;" width="178" /> </span><br />
<ul style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn about the role of patients in the changing health care environment </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn what you and your community can do to ensure and protect full access to health care items and services</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn how you can get involved in the Specialty Tier Coalition's effort to end specialty tier discrimination </span></li>
</span></ul>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span> </span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">For more information about the "Empowering the Patient" seminar please contact ARxC President, <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Who_We_Are.html" target="_blank">Dorothy Leone-Glasser, RN, HCC</a>, or</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;"> Ayana Charleston, the Southeast Region Arthritis Foundation Program Services Director at </span><a href="tel:404-2374454" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">404-237-4454</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>_________________________________________________</b></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
CALL TO ACTION to stop the increase in cost of s</span><i style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">pecialty tier</i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b> drugs.</b><span style="font-weight: 800;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span><b style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><br />
1.</b><b style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"> Know the facts.</b><b style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"> </b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Read the Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia's fact sheet "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Specialty_Tiers_What_do_they_mean_for_Georgia_1_" target="_blank">Specialty Tiers: What do they mean to Georgia?</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">" to know the facts about specialty tiers and how they restrict access to medication for patients with chronic diseases.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b style="font-weight: bold;">2. </b><b style="font-weight: bold;">Share your story. </b>Tell the Georgia community </span></span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">how the increase in the cost of medication due to the specialty tier classification has impacted you or your loved ones.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Share your story on the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Story_Submission.html" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Specialty Tiers Story Submission</span></a> webpage or email your<span style="line-height: 18px;"> story directly to ARxC <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">at</span><br />
<a href="mailto:dlg@wisdomofwellnessproject.com" shape="rect">dlg@wisdomofwellnessproject.com</a>.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If you have any questions or concerns please contact ARxC at 404-633-5843.</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px;">
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">For an example of how specialty tiers may affect Heidi's ability to manage her Rheumatoid Arthritis read <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/heidi_s_story.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Heidi's Story</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 16px;">.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">3. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Call on your representatives. </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Contact your members of congress and ask them to support this important legislation. Please go to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.rheumatology.org/advocacy/actioncenter.asp">http://www.rheumatology.org/advocacy/actioncenter.asp</a></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"> to take action on this critical issue.</span></span><br />
</span> <br />
<b style="font-weight: bold;">4. Support our efforts.</b> Help to mobilize the Georgia-wide effort by donating to ARxC. Go to</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> our <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Please_Donate.html" shape="rect"><span style="color: orange;">donation page</span></a> to make your tax-deductible contribution today.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b>Individually we make a difference, together we make change</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Listen to an interview with Dorothy Leone-Glasser on the Real Talk blogtalkradio.com show with Joyce and Jennifer</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;"> by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/joyceandjennifer" style="color: #0000ee;" target="_blank">joyceandjennifer</a>. The
theme of the show is patient advocacy and Dorothy discuses the role
that ARxC has taken to "empower individuals to achieve their maximum
wellness."
</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><a href="http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108190318" target="_blank">Congress ducks responsibility on Medicare by allowing back-door cuts</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">By Seth Ginsberg</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">lohud.com</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Engage in the discussion on how to hold Congress accountable to the health care needs of Americans.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Release of the Atlanta Regional Health Care Guide: Resources for the Uninsured</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">On
August 9, 2011 ARxC attended a presentation of the ‘Pfizer Helpful
Answers Guide for Georgia’ at City Hall with Mayor Kassim Reed, his
staff, Dr. David Satcher (16th Surgeon General) from Morehouse College,
The Black Nurses Association, The Hispanic Nurses Association, Pfizer
Government Affairs Director and other community leaders. The new Atlanta
Regional Health Care Guide is a comprehensive listing of all health
care resources for the uninsured and under-insured in Georgia. You can
access the guide online in</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <a href="http://www.atlantaga.gov/client_resources/media/ahgweb.pdf" shape="rect" style="color: black;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><b>English</b></span></a> and <a href="http://www.atlantaga.gov/client_resources/media/letters/atlantaguideespa%C3%B1ol-web.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><b>Spanish</b></a>. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"> We also have hard copies of the guide available. Please contact us if you'd like a printed copy.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<b style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">_________________________________________________</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Support legislation to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">repeal the </span>Independent Payment Advisory Board (</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">IPAB)</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
potential consequences from the Independent Payment Advisory Board
(IPAB) are numerous. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
(PPACA) should have the IPAB eliminated from its plan because of the
potential consequences it would have on senior citizens’ healthcare
program - Medicare.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IPAB
will be making decisions about payment policy in Medicare that will
determine whether millions of seniors have access to the care they need.
T</span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">he
panel could therefore potentially reduce payments to providers and
access to innovative therapies, thus limiting patient access.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seniors
are already finding it difficult to find doctors that will take
Medicare patients due to previous cuts made to physician’s payments.
This situation will be exacerbated with any proposed cuts. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following letters to Congressman Scott and Congressman Johnson outline ARxC's stance on this issue:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/DLG_IPAB_to_Rep_Scott.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: orange;">Letter to Congressman Scott</span></b></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/DLG.IPABto_Rep_Johnson.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Letter to Congressman Johnson</span></a></b></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Update on the Specialty Tiers Crisis</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">A
recent blog posted in Health Affairs highlights the results of the
Avalere study which proved to identify the need to abandon the specialty
tiers practice and establish sensible cost-sharing for Medicare Cancer
patients. </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">The blog is available at </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2011/06/24/establishing-sensible-cost-sharing-for-medicare-cancer-patients/" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">http://</span></span></a><a href="http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2011/06/24/establishing-sensible-costsharing-+for-medicare-cancer-patients/" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">healthaffairs.org/blog/2011/06/24/establishing-sensible-costsharing-</span>for-medicare-cancer-patients/</span></a></span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>MYTH by Dr. Henry Kahn, Physicians for a National Health Program, Georgia</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i>The
doctors of this country will never go along with so much government
involvement in health care. They’ll all quit, and our health care will
be worse off than before.</i></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Read Dr. Kahn's full article by clicking <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/MYTH_by_Dr_Henry_Kahn__1_.pdf" shape="rect" style="color: black;" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">here</span></b></a>. To learn more about the Physicians for a National Health Program go to <a href="http://www.pnhp.org/" shape="rect" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">www.pnhp.org</span></b></a>.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Seniors face Medicare cost barrier for cancer meds</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An
Associated Press article, released June 13, exposes the injustice of
making cancer meds exclusionary by increasing the cost of co-pays for</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis C and anti-cancer drugs.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Read the entire article by clicking <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Seniors_face_Medicare_cost_barrier_for_cancer_meds.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">here</span></b></a>.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Update on Piedmont Hall Closing - Grady Backs Down</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ARxC
was informed that, despite evidence that Grady was taking the initial
steps to close the clinic, Grady decided not to close Piedmont Hall. It
remains unknown what Grady's intentions are for Piedmont Hall, but at
this time it has been made clear that the clinic will not be closed.
Nonetheless, ARxC will continue to monitor the Grady Health System
closely to ensure that they continue to provide quality health care
services to the indigent patients of Georgia.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">_________________________________________________</span><br />
</b></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">
</span></span></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Co-sponsor the DREAM Act by <a href="http://action.dickdurbin.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=497&source=ar&tag=dreamact_ar" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">clicking here</span></a>.</span></b></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;">The
DREAM Act seeks to give immigrant students with good moral character
who have lived in the U.S. for at least five years -- and came here
before turning sixteen -- the chance to earn legal status after earning a
high school degree and completing two years of college or military
service in good standing.To learn more about the bill and how you can
get involved in promoting the legislation please go to <b><a href="http://dreamact.info/" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">www.dreamact.info</span></a></b> or sign the petition directly by <b><a href="http://action.dickdurbin.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=497&source=ar&tag=dreamact_ar" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">Co-sponsoring the DREAM Act</span></a></b>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;"> </span><b style="color: black;">_______________________________________________</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: black;">Join ARxC in the fight to preserve safety net primary care clinics in Atlanta</b><br />
<br />
ARxC continues to take a stand against the closing of primary care clinics in Atlanta, Georgia.<img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/032adb34ce6c508f42d56ec5ad386fe5_yq8i.png" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px;" /><br />
<br />
Safety
net primary care clinics include community health centers,
school-based health centers, rural health clinics, local health
departments, and other primary clinics that provide critically needed
primary care services (i.e. vaccinations, screenings, and wellness check
ups) to <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">low-income and medically under-served residents.</span><br />
<br />
Ensure
that the clinics in your community stay open. Tell your government
officials and community leaders why these clinics must remain viable
sources of care in your community.<br />
<br />
To learn more about ARxC's efforts to preserve the safety net primary care clinics in Atlanta go to <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Advocacy_Events.html"><b><span style="color: orange;">Advocacy Events</span></b></a>.</div>
</span></span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><b>_______________________________________________<br />
<br />
</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><b>What do you want from your health insurance? <br />
<br />
Tell ARxC what the best health insurance plan looks like to you.<br />
<br />
Go to </b></span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ88GSM" shape="rect"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;"><b>https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ88GSM</b></span></a><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"> <span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">and taking the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">ARxC Health Plan Survey</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">©.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">The purpose of the survey
is to find out what residents of Georgia want included in their health
insurance so that the people of Georgia have a voice in the
development of the state-based health insurance plans that will become
available in 2014.<br />
<br />
The survey responses will be compiled in a report which will be made
available to Georgia's elected officials so that they may make informed
decisions on what health insurance options will be made available to
Georgia citizens.<br />
<br />
ARxC will also advocate in favor of a consumer-centered health insurance
plan that meets the needs of Georgia citizens and promotes health and
wellbeing as a means to address the health disparity due to class,
race, and ethnicity in Georgia. <br />
<br />
You must be at least 18 years of age and a legal resident of Georgia to take the survey. <br />
<br />
It is your choice to participate. There are no risks or immediate benefits to taking the survey.<br />
<br />
Further details about the survey can be found online at </span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ88GSM" shape="rect"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;"><b>https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ88GSM</b></span></a>.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">Please help us develop the best practice model of health insurance for Georgians by taking our survey today at</span> </b></span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ88GSM" shape="rect"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;"><b>https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ88GSM</b></span></a><b><span style="font-size: 16px;">.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">Thank you.<br />
</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">_______________________________________________<br />
</span></b><b><u><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">CALL TO ACTION! <br />
</span></u><br />
</b><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Press_Release_ARxC_to_GHS_accountaable_4.3.11.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;"><b>ARxC Press Release to Grady Health System<br />
</b></span></a><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">(Please click this link to read ARxC's press release on the Grady Health System (GHS) closing of two primary care clinics.) <br />
<br />
Help us hold Grady Hospital to their mission of providing health care to Georgia residents.<br />
<br />
</span></span></b>Grady plans to close the South DeKalb and Otis W.
Smith Health Centers without addressing the concerns of the community
and community leaders. We stand with our County Commissioners to insist
that Grady Health System uphold their mission to serve the indigent
patients of Georgia and stop plans to close the clinics. <span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
_______________________________________________<br />
<br />
Grady to Close Clinics Without Addressing the Concerns of the Community<br />
<br />
</b>Two articles were recently published by the AJC that highlight
Grady's decision to close two primary care clinics in the Atlanta area:<br />
<br />
- March 7, 2011 - <a href="http://www.ajc.com/health/hospital-authority-grady-should-864305.html" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">Hospital authority: Grady should justify clinic closures<br />
</span></a>- March 3, 2011 - <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/grady-to-close-clinics-859170.html" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">Grady to close clinics, increase prescription drug copays</span></a> (<a href="http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/atlanta/grady-hospital-cuts0307/?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=gallery&cxcat=recent" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">Gallery: Grady cuts discussed at emergency meeting</span></a>)<br />
<b>_______________________________________________<br />
<br />
</b><b>"</b><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Healthy_Wealthy_and_Wise.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;"><b>Healthy Wealthy and Wise</b></span></a><b>" by Jerry "Pops" Barnes RN, BSN<br />
<br />
</b>Click the link above to read an article by Jerry "Pops" Barnes that <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">provides
health education to help you make healthy lifestyle changes and become
better informed about your health care decisions. <br />
<br />
Jerry “Pops” Barnes writes a weekly health column for the Columbus
Times. Mr. Barnes also serves as Councilman for District # 1 in
Columbus, Georgia. Mr. Barnes has served as a health educator and
devoted patient advocate. <br />
<b>_______________________________________________<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The Honorable John Lewis at the National Civil Rights Access to Justice at Emory School of Law</span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
</b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">GHLF Press Release<br />
</span><br />
</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ARxC
has championed preserving the doctor-patient relationship by alerting
consumers to illegal drug switching by health insurance providers or
other parties. This drug switching of brand-name drugs is done without
the prescribing doctor's permission. The switch occurs by the insurance
provider in order to save money; leaving the doctor uninformed and
threatening the safety of patient care. Please read the </span><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/GHLF_Press_Release_FINAL_11-29-10.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">Press Release Advocacy Alert</span> </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">by our partners, The Global Healthy Living Foundation and visit them at </span><a href="https://owalegacy.emory.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=e624675a1cd7458f8cac43438adf5edd&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.failfirsthurts.org" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">www.failfirsthurts.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. Please pass this alert onto your family, friends and physicians.<br />
<br />
Please click the link above or </span><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/GHLF_Press_Release_FINAL_11-29-10.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">click here</span> </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">to read the Global Health Living Foundation Press Release.<br />
</span><b>_______________________________________________<br />
<br />
</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Please donate to help Patricia's fight to stay alive!<br />
<br />
</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ARxC is currently collecting funds to sustain dialysis treatment for Patricia, a former Grady dialysis patient. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Patricia
needs our financial support to pay for her vital treatments. If she
does not receive her Dialysis treatments she will die in two (2) to
three (3) weeks. Click </span><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Please_Donate_to_Help_Patricia_Fight_to_Stay_Alive.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> to read Patricia's story. <br />
<br />
Help us to keep Patricia alive and to renew our faith in the care of each other by going to our </span><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Please_Donate.html" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Donate</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> webpage and making a contribution today.</span><br />
</span></span></span><b>_______________________________________________<br />
</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
<b>Medicare's Free Screenings Let Older Adults Get a Jump on Diabetes<br />
<br />
</b>Did you know that a significant number of Georgia’s older adults
are at risk for diabetes? Among the Medicare population ages 65 or
older living in Georgia, it is estimated that more than 150,000 have
undiagnosed diabetes and more than 450,000 have pre-diabetes, most of
whom are undiagnosed. If left undiagnosed and untreated, diabetes can
lead to higher chances of additional serious health conditions
including heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure or
amputations.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">In
Atlanta, former Atlanta Hawks forward and Basketball Hall-of-Fame
Dominique Wilkins and the Medicare Diabetes Screening Project (MDSP) are
teaming up with city officials, senior centers, churches and other
community-based organizations on “Get a Jump on Diabetes,” a campaign to
promote use of Medicare’s free diabetes screenings and the importance
of prevention. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ARxC is a local partner of Medicare Diabetes Screening Project.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">To learn more about Medicare’s free screening benefit ask your doctor or health care provider and visit </span><a href="http://www.screenfordiabetes.org/" shape="rect"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>www.screenfordiabetes.org</b></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span> </span></span></span><br />
_______________________________________________<br />
<br />
<b>Health Insurance Plan Selection<br />
</b><br />
Many Georgia workers and their families are getting ready to consider
their health insurance options for next year. It’s the annual open
enrollment period, during which important decisions about health care
will be made that will affect millions of Georgians.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, sometimes these decisions often are made quickly and with
little examination of the health plan’s details. A recent survey
conducted for MetLife found that three out of four workers will spend no
more time than they did last year on a health plan selection; only 13
percent will spend more time. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,Georgia; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Take the time to review your health plan</b></span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>.</b> The open enrollment periods provide the time, the resources and the accessibility workers need to choose wisely. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,Georgia; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,Georgia; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>What should you look for when selecting a health insurance plan?</b> Please click the link below to review ARxC's <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">advice on how to select a health insurance plan.<br />
<br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/2010_Annual_Open_Enrollment_Alert_from_ARxC.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"><b>ARxC 2010 Annual Open Enrollment Alert</b></span></a><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Check Your Medications<br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">As a patient advocacy organization, ARxC <span style="font-size: 16px;">receives </span></span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
many calls and e-mail asking questions about prescription drugs,
substituting medications and problems with prescription compliance by
the Insurance Provider and Pharmacists. <br />
<br />
</span>The attached documents are tools for you to utilize<br />
to ensure that you receive <b>exactly</b> the medication specified by your physician<br />
<br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Check_your_Medications.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Check Your Medications</b></span></a></span> __________________________________________<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Patient Rights</b> <br />
<br />
ARxC feels it is critical that all people in the United States
become familiar with the American Patient Bill of Rights. Please review
the following document to ensure your rights as a patient are upheld.<br />
<br />
</span><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Patient_Bill_of_Rights_Pres._Obamadoc.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Patient Bill of Rights</span></b></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="display: block;">
Advocacy Events and Partners</div>
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><img alt="" height="337" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/99d677975fbd678f6ed166467e773745_0t3x.png" width="456" /><br />
_________________________________________________<br />
<br />
ARxC's New Partner in Patient Advocacy: The International Medical Clinic<br />
<br />
</b>The International Medical Clinic (IMC)</span><span style="background-color: white; border-image: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> is
a unique, patient-centered multi-specialty community medical clinic in
the Atlanta area providing patient access for everyone. IMC is a
one-of-a-kind affordable medical center, speaking 14 languages and
featuring 11 medical specialties. The IMC medical staff spotlights
outstanding customer service and patient-satisfied outcomes. Realizing
the need for patient access to medical care I Atlanta and its
surrounding communities, IMC treats all patients from lower income,
middle income to upper middle income households who are uninsured,
under- insured or those who have an exceptionally high insurance
deductible. Our patients are American, Hispanic, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Caribbean, <wbr></wbr>Brazilian, Korean, Russian, African, as well as from many other places. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; border-image: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">The mission of IMC is to provide affordable access to medical care while improving the health of its community.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information please watch this short interview of the IMC , Medical Director, Dr. Mel Colon.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; border-image: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fwatch%3Fv=NYm4z0Wsm9M&urlhash=V_m9&_t=mbox_grop" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr></wbr>v=NYm4z0Wsm9M</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; border-image: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">International Medical Clinic</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; border-image: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5979 Buford Highway</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; border-image: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doraville, Georgia 30340</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; border-image: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Telephone: <a href="tel:678-547-0000" target="_blank" value="+16785470000"><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-position: 0px 0px !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border-color: #000000 !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0px !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-size: 11px !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; line-height: 14px !important; list-style-image: none !important; list-style-position: outside !important; list-style-type: disc !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; overflow-x: hidden !important; overflow-y: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-align: left !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; white-space: nowrap !important; width: auto !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;" tabindex="-1"> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-position: 0px 0px !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border-color: #000000 !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0px !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style-image: none !important; list-style-position: outside !important; list-style-type: disc !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; overflow-x: hidden !important; overflow-y: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;" title="Click to make a low cost call with Skype"><span class="skype_pnh_left_span" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/numbers_common_inactive_icon_set.gif) !important; background-position: 0px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border-color: #000000 !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0px !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style-image: none !important; list-style-position: outside !important; list-style-type: disc !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; overflow-x: hidden !important; overflow-y: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: 6px !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;" title="Skype actions"> </span><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_span" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/numbers_common_inactive_icon_set.gif) !important; background-position: -11px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border-color: #000000 !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0px !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style-image: none !important; list-style-position: outside !important; list-style-type: disc !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; overflow-x: hidden !important; overflow-y: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: 27px !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;" title="Skype actions"><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_flag_span" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/flags.gif) !important; background-position: -5849px 1px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border-color: #000000 !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0px !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style-image: none !important; list-style-position: outside !important; list-style-type: disc !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; overflow-x: hidden !important; overflow-y: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: 18px !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;"> </span> </span><span class="skype_pnh_textarea_span" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/numbers_common_inactive_icon_set.gif) !important; background-position: -125px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border-color: #000000 !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0px !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style-image: none !important; list-style-position: outside !important; list-style-type: disc !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; overflow-x: hidden !important; overflow-y: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/numbers_common_inactive_icon_set.gif) !important; background-position: -125px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border-color: #000000 !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0px !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style-image: none !important; list-style-position: outside !important; list-style-type: disc !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; overflow-x: hidden !important; overflow-y: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 5px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;">678-547-0000</span></span><span class="skype_pnh_right_span" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: url(chrome-extension://lifbcibllhkdhoafpjfnlhfpfgnpldfl/numbers_common_inactive_icon_set.gif) !important; background-position: -62px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-collapse: separate !important; border-color: #000000 !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0px !important; bottom: auto !important; clear: none !important; clip: auto !important; cursor: pointer !important; direction: ltr !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: 14px !important; left: auto !important; letter-spacing: 0px !important; list-style-image: none !important; list-style-position: outside !important; list-style-type: disc !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; overflow-x: hidden !important; overflow-y: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; page-break-after: auto !important; page-break-before: auto !important; page-break-inside: auto !important; position: static !important; right: auto !important; table-layout: auto !important; text-decoration: none !important; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: 15px !important; word-spacing: normal !important; z-index: 0 !important;"> </span></span> </span></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">_________________________________________________</span><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">2012 Latino Health Summit</span><br />
<br />
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">ARxC was proud to attend</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-size: 16px;">the
2012 Latino Health Summit. The event served as an opportunity for ARxC
to engage with other community leaders to address the health and
wellness needs of the Latino/Hispanic populations in the US. <img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/7f1b1ab57d23e996164947f4b44e75b2_42he_1wok_knaf.png" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px;" /><br />
<br />
As a participant at the event, ARxC exchanged ideas with health care
advocates, academic scholars, government officials, and other experts in
Latino health. Health topics addressed at the event included cancer,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">maternal and child </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">health, and behavioral health. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> Dr. Karen Andes, Assistant Professor of Global Health at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, presented on the <a href="http://hhcga.org/pdf_events/HispanicReport_wCover.pdf" target="_blank">2012 Georgia Latino Health Report</a><span style="font-size: 16px;">, a </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">comprehensive
report that synthesizes data on the health status and outcomes of
Georgia Hispanics, at the event. The report highlights alarming
disparities in health and access to health care endured by Hispanic
populations in Georgia.<br />
<br />
For more details about the event see the <a href="http://hhcga.org/pdf_events/programwebsite.pdf" target="_blank">2012 Latino Health Summit Program</a>.</span><br />
</span></span></span> <br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">_________________________________________________</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">2012 Arthritis Walk</b><br />
<br />
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Thank
you to all who came out to support the ARxC Wisdom Walkers and Heidi,
this year's Arthritis Foundation adult honoree and our own STAR
advocate, at the 2012 Arthritis Walk. <img align="left" alt="" height="192" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/45884af72019fb3dd64f6bed025b7f58_6pri_9d7m_vb0r.png" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px;" width="256" /></span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We
collected over 350 petitions at the event in support of the Patient
Access to Treatment Act (PATA) and a number of people volunteered to
share with us how specialty tiers has or may impact them or their loved
ones. This fight to protect patient's full access to their medications
is more important than ever given that more adults and children are
being diagnosed with one of the 100 forms of arthritis everyday. You can
show your support for PATA by filling out and sending us the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Promoting_Affordable_Access_to_Care_Petition__2.doc" target="_blank">Promoting Affordable Access to Care Petition</a> or by reaching out to your representatives directly through the </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rheumatology.org/advocacy/actioncenter.asp">ACR Legislative Action Center</a><span style="font-size: 16px;">.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">
Thank you to all who helped us reach our fundraising goal for the Walk.
For all of those that would still like to make a donation to the
Arthritis Foundation, there's still time. Go to our </span><a href="http://2012arthritiswalkatlanta.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=491944&lis=1&kntae491944=E8197E7CE2424F2FB1A59B34FD4183AC&supId=0&team=5030055&cj=Y" style="color: black;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">ARxC Wisdom Walkers webpage</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"> to make a donation today.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Thank you to all who made the Arthritis Walk a success. We all had a
great time visiting with folks, collecting petitions, and g</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-size: 16px;">etting physically active to help prevent, control, and find a cure for Arthritis.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><b>Global Humanitarian Summit</b><br />
<br />
ARxC attended the 2012 Global Humanitarian Summit in April 2012 to stay
informed on advocacy efforts that are being led in Georgia, in the
United States, and throughout the world. <br />
<br />
To read about the speakers and exhibitors at the event go to the <a href="http://www.imvc.org/" target="_blank">Global Humanitarian Summit website</a>. <b><br />
_________________________________________________</b><br />
<br />
<b>Empowering the Patient Seminar</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><br />
<br />
Thank you to those that attended the "Empowering the Patient" seminar on
March 10, 2012. We were pleased to see from the event evaluation that
you all found the event to provide valuable information and tools to
help you play a more active role in<img align="right" alt="" height="191" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/05e852352324cadaa0db98260c74771e_q4fc_1ob7.png" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px;" width="178" /> ensuring your own health and well-being. Please go to our photo gallery to see images from the event.</span> </span></span> <br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">ARxC
plans to hold more events like this one in the future. If you or your
organization would like to host an event please contact ARxC directly.</span> </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">For more information about the "Empowering the Patient" seminar please contact ARxC President,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/Who_We_Are.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Dorothy Leone-Glasser, RN, HCC</span></a>, or Ayana Charleston, the Southeast Region Arthritis Foundation Program Services Director at </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt;"><a href="tel:404-2374454" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">404-237-4454</span></a></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> _________________________________________________ </span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><b style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ARxC Co-Sponsors the Baby Expo</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ARxC co-sponsored the Baby Expo with El Nuevo Georgia on <b>November 12, 2011</b>,
at the Atlanta Eagles Sports Center on Buford Hwy in Atlanta. The
multicultural event was focused on providing new and expecting mothers
with information </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><img align="right" alt="" height="288" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/baby_expo_small_rwjc_q6ae_nwto.png" style="background-color: white; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; font-size: 16px;" width="252" /></span> <br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and resources to promote the health and wellness of mothers and their babies. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Thank
you to all who came out for the event. We enjoyed visiting with you
and providing you with information on clinics to access in the Atlanta
area. We hope you received valuable information and enjoyed the event
activities. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">_________________________________________________</span></b></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;">
<b><br />
</b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ARxC Appeals to the Fulton Board of Commissioners to Keep the Grady Health System Accountable</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span> </span></span><br />
<div style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span>
<div style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While
ARxC continues to work towards finding a solution for the Grady
dialysis patients, we continue to hold Grady Hospital accountable for
serving the indigent residents of Fulton and Dekalb counties (see<span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Letter_to_Commissioner_Darnell.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank">Letter of Support to</a><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Letter_to_Commissioner_Darnell.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"> Commissio</a></span><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/ARxC_Letter_to_Commissioner_Darnell.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank">ner Emma Darnell</a></span>).</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/a1bffd5930c6e6e754013d940a8dda23_w9xn.png" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /></span><br />
<div style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">ARxC will continue to work towards keeping the G</span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">rady
Health System accountable and if they cannot be, to take action and
insist to the Fulton and DeKalb Boards that their funding to operate
these clinics cease. For the welfare of the patients who u</span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">se
these clinics and to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers, we
support the clinic funding that GHS would receive to instead go to
establishing a National Health Clinic for Georgia or a Community Health
Center or partner with an existing Community Health Center to take over
operations of the Otis Smith and South DeKalb clinics.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <br />
For further details please read the statement that Dorothy Leone-Glasser
presented to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners on April 25,
2011 by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Fulton_Board_Comm.Statement_4.20.11.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">April 25, 2011 Statement to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners</span></a>.<br />
<br />
You can also read an article published by the Atlanta Progressive News by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/interspire/news/2011/04/24/grady-plans-to-close-community-clinics-fulton-opposes-closures.html" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px;">Grady Plans to Close Community Clinics, Fulton Opposes Closures</span></a>.</span></div>
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">_______________________________________________</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ARxC Protests the Closing of the Grady Health</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>System Primary Care Clinics<br />
<br />
</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As
advocates for all patients of Georgia, ARxC works to hold Grady
Hospital accountable to their mission statement of providing medical
care to the public. Please read the <a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Press_Release_ARxC_to_GHS_accountaable_4.3.11.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">April 3, 2011 Press Release</span></a> to become better informed about ARxC’s approach to ensure that all patients have access to the care they need.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><img align="left" alt="" height="517" src="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/images/otis_smith_clinic_protest_oars.jpg" style="border-image: initial; border: 0px solid; height: 177px; width: 232px;" width="647" />Commissioner
Emma Darnell of Fulton County, a long time partner with ARxC, has
spearheaded the effort to hold the Grady Health System accountable to
their targeted population. In a<a href="http://www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org/uploads/Comm_Darnell_letter_for_Com_Bd_meeting.pdf" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Commissioner Darnell's Letter to ARxC</span></a>, Commissioner </span><span style="color: black;">Darnell
strongly supports ARxC’s demonstrations and efforts to protest the
rights of the poor and underserved. To learn more about Commissioner
Darnell’s record in upholding access to health care for Georgia’s
indigent please go to her <a href="http://www.emmadarnell.com/healthcare.htm" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">webpage</span></a>.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Advocates for Responsible Care<br />
1434 Brook Valley Lane NE<br />
Atlanta, GA 30324<br />
<br />
phone: 404-633-5843<br />
fax: 404-321-5952</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ARxC
relies entirely upon private donations for the continuation of our
services. Your donations will go far to help ARxC's fight to ensure all
people have access to health care.<br />
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Thank you for your generosity.<br />
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There are three ways to make your tax-deductible donation to ARxC.<br />
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<b>1)</b> Send your check or money order directly to ARxC at<br />
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<b>ARxC <br />
1434 Brook Valley Lane<br />
Atlanta, GA 30324<br />
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<b>2)</b> Donate online with a credit card by clicking the "donate" button on their website.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>3)</b> Directly deposit your donation to the <b>Rosa Lira Memorial Fund</b></span> at any Wells Fargo bank. </form>
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<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> ____________________________________________________________</span></span><br />
</b></span> </span>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-90422543789423046022012-07-31T02:20:00.000-04:002012-07-31T02:20:11.953-04:00Blog Carnival Accepting Submissions Extended Thru Aug. 10!!Do you still want to be a part of the Blog Carnival? Have no
Fear!!!!!!!! The due date for accepting submissions for the Blog
Carnival has been extended through Friday August 10th. This is so
exciting because July is JA Awareness Month, and we are continuing the
Movement with IAAM into August!!!<br />
<br />
The Topic for submission is Why Is JA Different From OA?<br />
<br />
This
is extrememly important on so many levels. There are people out there
who still don't know that arthritis can affect kids. The type of
arthritis that affects kids is Juvenile Arthritis which is Autoimmune
Arthritis which is different from our Grandma's Arthritis. It is not the
same as a little arthritis in your knee!<br />
<br />
<br />
Please send in your submissions and let us know why they differ!
People need to know that when kids are sick from arthritis, it is often
more severe and can be more life-threatening, but if they can catch it
early, that is the key!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
You can not be born with Arthritis but you can be born with Autoimmune Arthritis...Tell us about it!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Enter your submission in the Blog Carnival due Aug. 10th. Let's
continue JA Awareness. Email submissions to danalm_iaam@yahoo.com.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Let's Keep up the JA Awareness Movement!<br />
<br />
<br />
Watch my recent video post total hip replacement...I hope it will
inspire you. When someone has had a second hip replacement and a
shoulder replacement and is in her 30's from AVN due to complications of
Autoimmune Arthritis, people will realize that Autoimmune Arthritis is
not the same as Osteoarthritis...Differentiate your diagnosis...Tell us
why JA differs from OA...<br />
<br />
<br />
I will give a prize to the blog post that has put the most time, thought and creativity into it...So...start writing!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QHUw6Ke83dA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-73002386519314640412012-07-18T18:05:00.001-04:002012-07-18T18:05:14.232-04:00IAAM/WAAD is teaming up with the Arthritis Foundation (US) and EULAR to make WAD!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-NjLutzBby9u3L0pjmaWJCvJGafgzBnp5IiLCSr3cMvpWxRkem7jGFmksKLuSUivDmq-bFkRurSkp4gMlovYmCReB76xS7xolenb_x4rLihJoR_dGP9H49z94W4uCdw1QnMDuhFmy7XG/s1600/555493_3782977125234_805324797_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-NjLutzBby9u3L0pjmaWJCvJGafgzBnp5IiLCSr3cMvpWxRkem7jGFmksKLuSUivDmq-bFkRurSkp4gMlovYmCReB76xS7xolenb_x4rLihJoR_dGP9H49z94W4uCdw1QnMDuhFmy7XG/s400/555493_3782977125234_805324797_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am Dana. I have Psoriatic Arthritis, Sjogren's & possible Lupus & Ankylosing Spndylitis. IAAM Waving for WAD!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;">IAAM/WAAD is teaming up with the Arthritis Foundation (US) and EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) to
make World Arthritis Day (WAD), October 12th, a ginormous awareness event for
all the groups of arthritis. In doing this, we are asking you to
participate in the WAVE for WAD campaign! <br /><br /> It's simple: </span> <span style="font-size: small;"><br /> 1. Take a photo or video of you waving OR doing the wave OR riding a wave, etc. It is your changce to get really creative!<br /> 2. Submit it to: <a href="http://www.worldarthritisday.org/waving-photo-upload" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.worldarthritisday.org/waving-photo-upload</a><br /> 3. Each wave counts for a wave from your country! <span class="text_exposed_show">Periodic mentions of which countries are in the lead will be mentioned. Let's each work hard to get our countries in the lead! Let's lift up those rankings, people!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br />
IAAM is making it even more fun by posting CALL TO ACTION Challenges. Should you choose to accept, you are in for loads of FUN!!!!!!!!<br /> <br /> WAVE for WAD:
Challenge #1- Take a photo of yourself or others waving while holding a
sign that states the type of arthritis you have. This challenge is aimed
to show that the arthritis diseases affect diffferent ranges of age,--a whole spectrum of ages from babies to the elderly--and there are different types of arthritis as well which can
help to differentiate different branches. Feel free to use the specific
name of the arthritis type(s) (ie: Psoriatic Arthritis,
Osteoarthritis) OR a descriptive name (ie: Autoimmune Arthritis,
Degenerative Arthritis, etc). <br /> <br /> Submit it to: <a href="http://www.worldarthritisday.org/waving-photo-upload" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.worldarthritisday.org/waving-photo-upload</a> and see it posted live soon! Follow them on the WAD facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/worldarthritisday) as well as the WAAD facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WorldAutoimmuneArthritisDay) and IAAM facebook (pagehttps://www.facebook.com/InternationalAutoimmuneArthritisMovement). Use it to challenge your friends and see
if they will also take the Wave for Arthritis Challenge #1!...and when it comes to IAAM, it there is a Challent #1, you better believe there will be a #2, #3, #4, etc. etc., etc.,... </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">ATTENTION AUTOIMMUNE ARTHRITIS'ERS:<br /> THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO START CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD VIEWS "ARTHRITIS"!</span></i><br /><br />
IAAM was brought in to the 2012 World Arthritis Day (WAD) campaign to
help bring more awareness to Autoimmune Arthritis so LET'S</span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show">
DO IT! While you may always simply upload a photo of you waving, IAAM
has put an awareness spin on the Wave for WAD campaign by posting Call
to Action Challenges!<br /> <br /> Challenge #1: We are starting out easy,
but in true IAAM fashion they'll get more challenging and more FUN ;).
Take a photo of yourself, your friends, anyone with Autoimmune
Arthritis, wave to WAD BUT ADD SOMETHING TO SHOW WHAT TYPE OF ARTHRITIS
YOU HAVE. If you have an Autoimmune Arthritis disease, show it! If you
have OA, write down Degenerative Arthritis and show that- The purpose is
to start DIFFERENTIATING THE TERMINOLOGY FOR CHALLENGE #1.<br /> <br /> Once you've done this and downloaded it to <a href="http://www.worldarthritisday.org/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.worldarthritisday.org</a>
your country will get another "wave" added to their total, so in
addition to awareness you are also helping to make YOUR country the
leader in the awareness campaign.<br /> <br /> Come on Autoimmune Arthritisers! NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO START CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD VIEWS ARTHRITIS!</span></span></b></div>
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<a class="external UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_MED_Image" data-ft="{"type":41,"tn":"E"}" href="http://www.worldarthritisday.org/" rel="nofollow" tabindex="-1" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="img" src="https://fbexternal-a.akamaihd.net/safe_image.php?d=AQB-h4o8c8KanRJi&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldarthritisday.org%2FResources%2FImages%2Fshoes.jpg" /></a><div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_MED_Content fsm fwn fcg">
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<strong><a href="http://www.worldarthritisday.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">World Arthritis Day 2012 Homepage</a></strong> </div>
<span class="caption" data-ft="{"tn":"L"}"><a href="http://www.worldarthritisday.org/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.worldarthritisday.org</a></span></div>
</div>
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</span></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-12842540040114955752012-07-13T00:03:00.001-04:002012-07-20T00:13:06.856-04:00What Do YOU Think of When You Hear The Word " ARTHRITIS"?--Ask Parker<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
What do YOU think of when you hear the word “ARTHRITIS”?
</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3NK4ZeULHnCOiNQaRxDBdLnlE2OEV2OEXeX0FDu4eGbamRcWkyJZy0QQTolL_GkhFrquyffeE6JUxZuqOSGvpM6rn6QBF-CMVCU2uLNeu-QrqlxlQ8VfkMKj0CjopDcSys9qi0nt3HR2/s1600/JA2012awarenessMonth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3NK4ZeULHnCOiNQaRxDBdLnlE2OEV2OEXeX0FDu4eGbamRcWkyJZy0QQTolL_GkhFrquyffeE6JUxZuqOSGvpM6rn6QBF-CMVCU2uLNeu-QrqlxlQ8VfkMKj0CjopDcSys9qi0nt3HR2/s400/JA2012awarenessMonth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When
I was younger, if I didn’t know the meaning of a word, my mom would say
“look it up”…well, I decided to look up “arthritis” for the fun of it…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Merriam-Webster dictionary defines arthritis as:</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“inflammation of joints due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes; also<b>:</b> a specific arthritic condition (as gouty arthritis or psoriatic arthritis)”</i></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Let’s dive in a little deeper</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">…
Most of us hear the word arthritis and think of the form called
“osteoarthritis” and yet we use the word “arthritis” as if it is
interchangeable with the word “osteoarthritis”. We
all know someone, usually an older person, who has arthritis…in fact,
it is so “accepted” as the norm that many elders will say something like
“oh, it’s just my arthritis acting up” if you ask why they are moving
with caution in some way. Our culture/society expects this because it’s only natural as one ages. But why do we accept pain as acceptable…it’s not something anyone should have to experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Osteoarthrtits (OA) as: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“<span class="ssens">arthritis
typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by
degenerative and sometimes hypertrophic changes in the bone and
cartilage of one or more joints and a progressive wearing down of
apposing joint surfaces with consequent distortion of joint position and
is marked symptomatically especially by pain, swelling, and
stiffness—abbreviation </span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OA</span></i></i><span class="ssens">; called also </span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, hypertrophic arthritis”</span></i></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">OA is NOT what children with juvenile arthritis have! </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Juvenile
arthritis is a form of rheumatoid arthritis and more specifically is
differentiated from OA because it’s an autoimmune arthritis. Juvenile arthritis is not NATURAL in any of its various forms. Yet,
many families experiencing JA have heard at one point or another,
something to the effect of “Oh, I know about that (referring to JA), I
get arthritis in my …” or “My grandma has arthritis…” or “I had tennis elbow and that really hurts…” All of these comments are very well-intended. They are a way of showing compassion or an attempt to relate to a disease that many know very little about. But
as a parent or a child/teen dealing with the disease, these comments
are incredibly frustrating to hear spoken aloud because we painfully
know that osteoarthritis is not synonymous with Juvenile arthritis in
any way shape or form; except that they share one commonality in that
the diseases both affect joints. Juvenile arthritis (also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) is an autoimmune disease.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Merriam-Webster defines rheumatoid arthritis as: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“<span class="ssens">a
usually chronic disease that is considered an autoimmune disease and is
characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling,
and sometimes destruction of joints—abbreviation </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-style: normal;">RA</span></i><span class="ssens"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">; called also </i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-style: normal;">atrophic arthritis”</span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;">and autoimmune is:</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;">“</span></i><span class="ssens"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of, relating to, or caused by antibodies or T cells that attack molecules, cells, or tissues of the organism producing them”</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="ssens"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and atrophy (verb: atrophic) is: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue; </i></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;">also</span></i><span class="ssens"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></span><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">:</span></i></b><span class="ssens"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant”</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Juvenile arthritis (JA) comes in many forms and severities range from one end of the spectrum to the other. Just as the various 100 plus forms of JA differ, so does the treatment. Researchers are still learning about JA; there is still so much that is unknown. And
even if one treatment plan works for one child with the very same form
of JA as another, it doesn’t guarantee it will work for every child with
that form. Each child is an individual. Thus the challenge for pediatric rheumatologists is great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
know that families who read our blog, especially whose child is newly
diagnosed, may worry even more after reading about Parker. But
I want to reassure families to remember that just because something
doesn’t work (or does work) for our child, doesn’t mean the same will
happen if the treatment is used for their child. I have heard that some families get really scared after reading about Parker. We
never intended to scare anyone, but we do ALL desperately need a cure
for our children no matter where we are at in this JA journey. Parker does have a severe and progressive form of JA called systemic on-set juvenile arthritis (also known as still’s disease). Recently,
we have learned that even with systemic on-set there are some who have
less than 5 joints involved (oligo) and some who have more than 5 joints
involved (poly) and that it’s children who are poly in nature that seem
to have a more progressive form of the disease and that children with
systemic on-set seem to have more immunology issues. For readers who are
not familiar with systemic on-set JA, these children not only have
joint involvement but also can have issues with rashes, fevers, and
inflammation in any organ in the entire body (source: <a href="http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/44/11/1350.full.pdf+html" target="_blank">http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/44/11/1350.full.pdf+html</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Our
family has chosen to be vocal about our experiences because we feel it
is one way we can raise awareness and advocate for what is needed for
ALL CHILDREN with autoimmune diseases. They
ALL deserve equal attention and we really feel that if researchers
could figure out one autoimmune disease, it would help with making
progress on all autoimmune diseases.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUxkSOGcYVEOXKN8byU4HDOCbZz3B5uLReB68J_aT-hOW3Ka8Fg2WSC5W_kpUNJNY1sxz0iDKdwQ5UA43UGmjE1pqWd7xd86ca-6c7B59b63rz0aD0oNynWMKc-_Z8a6EW6j3UQt-BYNb/s1600/IMAG1262.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUxkSOGcYVEOXKN8byU4HDOCbZz3B5uLReB68J_aT-hOW3Ka8Fg2WSC5W_kpUNJNY1sxz0iDKdwQ5UA43UGmjE1pqWd7xd86ca-6c7B59b63rz0aD0oNynWMKc-_Z8a6EW6j3UQt-BYNb/s400/IMAG1262.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael, Logan, Parker, and Jesse (Logan's best bud) watch the sunset</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> So tonight the rain clouds drifted away as we watch the sunset on another glorious day. We send out love to all families dealing with Juvenile Arthritis in any size, shape, or form. May we all see a CURE become reality for our future children!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">IAAM's JA Awareness MOVEMENT....</span></b></i></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Thank you for being the next <b>Guest Blogger</b> on
both of my blogs. You are so wonderful for sharing your <b>Personal JA Story</b>. If you have
any questions </span>
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">for mom, dad, big brother, or this little warrior Parker</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">, please go to their blog,</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <i><a href="http://purpleplayapower.blogspot.com/"><b>Parker's Purple Playa Power..Pounding JA</b></a></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">. <b><i>"</i></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>A mom, dad, big brother, and warrior sharing our perspectives of
Juvenile Arthritis, a painful autoimmune illness affecting joints and
internal organs…JA affects over 300,000 children in the US and many also
have other autoimmune illnesses. There are multiple forms of JA; some
less severe than others. Parker has system onset JA with overlap
syndrome, along with severe allergies and asthma. Although there isn't a
cure yet; we proudly pound at JA together with HOPE for a cure!" </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whether you have <b>JA</b>, are a parent of someone with JA, or care for someone with JA, I am looking for <b>Guest Bloggers</b> all month long!!!! </span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">If you have a <b>JA Personal Story</b> you would like
to share, please <b>email your story</b> to Dana at <b>danalm_iaam@yahoo.com</b> with
your <b>title, blog name and URL</b>, <b>your name </b>as you would like it published
<b>on my two blogs </b>and on <b>IAAM's Facebook Public Pages</b>. If you do not have
a blog, that is OK, you can still share your story, simply send me your
story in a <b>Word Document</b> <b>with</b> your <b>picture</b> attached and I will put it
into my blog for you. It is that simple. ;-)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">I </span>also want to let all the JA
parents out there (and JA supporters and advocates) that <b>IAAM </b>initially launched our <b>Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Movement</b> Monday, July 9th, dedicated to set a new standard in JA awareness :). We started the campaign by hosting a
<b>Video Contest</b>
unlike anything seen or done before--but until now awareness has not
reached an acceptable level so we are going to change all of that! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This initial campaign, a <b>60 secondish video commercial competition</b> for <b>YOU</b> to help blast dozens of short messages to the world so others can
understand. The <b>subject? JA and OA: Differentiating Arthritis.</b> These short
segments should <b>simply show WHY JA is different than OA</b>.</span></div>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Because people are not always comfortable with new things, our <b>video idea</b>
is a totally <b>new idea</b>, we want to make sure <b>everyone has a chance</b> do a good job, and
we want to make sure we have <b>enough time</b> to <b>make it fun</b> for everyone, <b>IAAM CEO Tiffany
Westrich</b> is using her time to host her <b>"training sessions."</b> Tiffany is extremely talented at her
training sessions, and they should run long enough so that <b>everyone gets</b> enough <b>help</b> to <b>understand how to do the videos</b> and turn brainstorming concept into imagery. <b>She will also tape the training sessions like a
course on brainstorming concept to imagery</b>, which she taught in
college. We will launch a <b>new call for videos from the 16th through the 30th
of August</b>.</span></span></h6>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Voting</b> will take place <b>in September.</b> <b>3 Finalists</b> will be selected, resulting from <b>IAAM voting</b> and <b>20%
PUBLIC voting</b> so you can blast that sucker everywhere! <b>One Grand Prize winner
(selected in October) </b>will receive a complimentary <b>rental house7 night stay</b>, 4 bedroom, 3 bath
property in <b>Orlando Florida</b> just a few miles from Disney and Universal Studios.
Prize donated by FloridaHolidayHomes4U. Restrictions apply.<br />
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We <b>KNOW you can say</b> what the <b>differences</b> are, but if you <b>aren't sure
how to put</b> those words <b>into</b> an effective <b>video</b> HAVE NO FEAR! As part of this
initiative, remember that <b>Tiffany, IAAM CEO</b> and Founder, happened to also teach <b>advanced
design at a college level</b>, which i<b>ncluded how to take concepts into imagery</b>. She
is the one who designs all of our posters and videos, and she is donating her
time to <b>personally teach you how</b> to do it too!<br />
<br />
<b>Interested in learning more</b>?! Awesome! <b>Email JAContest@IAAMovement.org</b> for more
details!!!<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>IAAM's Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Movement has begun!</i></span></b></span><br />
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Time to put your thinking caps on and <b>decide how YOU</b> <b>would like to see JA
differentiated from OA </b>in short, <b>impactful video form</b>...and <b>IAAM will TEACH</b> you
<b>how to make your visions a reality!</b> <b>Sign up today to participate at
JAContest@IAAMovement.org!</b><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">WATCH THE VIDEO: <span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmfsJ4IP9_E&amp;feature=g-upl</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhklx6szSv3Lw2dQKRRqxS3154-O1dZFx2M0WXhutt_7dPf7Yhs-hLuRJlPrPHR0CHd3DdCPm0uELT0YXw_obwNRPFECV9VZrEHl8eIkooYMEbi0opNc1RBCeEMsCklEdpOO5BLyPijLN/s1600/557090_464967420195098_1636304544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhklx6szSv3Lw2dQKRRqxS3154-O1dZFx2M0WXhutt_7dPf7Yhs-hLuRJlPrPHR0CHd3DdCPm0uELT0YXw_obwNRPFECV9VZrEHl8eIkooYMEbi0opNc1RBCeEMsCklEdpOO5BLyPijLN/s320/557090_464967420195098_1636304544_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">In the meantime, I am <b>hosting a Blog Carnival</b> on my <b>2 Blogs</b>
and facebook Public Pages. Please send your blog posts to Dana at
danalm_iaam@yahoo.com. The Blog Carnival should help with your
brainstorming of ideas for the making of your video for the JA Video
Contest. The Topic for the Blog Carnival is also JA and OA: Differentiating Arthritis. WHY is JA different than OA? All Blog Carnival submissions are <span style="background-color: white;">due July 27th</span> and will go live on <span style="background-color: white;">August 4th.</span></span></div>
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</div>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-7257719808404942502012-07-07T23:54:00.005-04:002012-07-20T00:16:47.346-04:00Alexa: My Story<div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1341635257363608" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: 'Marker Felt'; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1341635257363616" style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">When
people ask for my story I’m never really sure where to start. Do I
start with when I first noticed the pain, when I was diagnosed or where I
am at now? For now I will start with when it all began. I had just
turned <b>14 years old</b>, and I was soon to be a freshman in high school. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji61njfGmYoz8VXpr_-dCUIJVHwrXHjZ6x5OrKMWUTW7bVQ5-bJSg_pPc9cBjLyOtt3bU7GWc4uFO-GXYlNVrqY1eD1JWIq-wKTguxGaAum7piM2lsKhSzQFGGDvN3EV0uTDg8yZnDqdA/s1600/DSC_0845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji61njfGmYoz8VXpr_-dCUIJVHwrXHjZ6x5OrKMWUTW7bVQ5-bJSg_pPc9cBjLyOtt3bU7GWc4uFO-GXYlNVrqY1eD1JWIq-wKTguxGaAum7piM2lsKhSzQFGGDvN3EV0uTDg8yZnDqdA/s1600/DSC_0845.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1341635257363616" style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I
was so excited, it was the next step in my life, and I could finally do a
sport that I was good at, golf. Another new thing to me was marching
band. Practices for both started in early August. The more active I was
the more I was noticing pain. It all started in my wrists and my knees.
My wrists would pop, snap, and crack every time I would pull the club
back, it got so bad to the point that I couldn’t even hold the club up
very well. My coach sent me to our HS athletic trainer to have her look
at them. When I talked to her she said that yes they were swollen, but
it was probably just tendonitis. She wrapped them up for me and I was on
my way. As for my knee marching band was starting to get the best of
me, both knees hurt, only one popped. After awhile my parents gave in
and sent me to an orthopedic surgeon in town. Worst decision ever made. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1341635257363616" style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">When we went he diagnosed me with an extra band of tissue in my right
knee, after so long though with no results we transferred to DeVos
Children’s Hospital. There they took care of my knee and diagnosed me
with a torn meniscus which 3 surgeries later would be fixed. Even though
there was nothing visibly wrong with my left knee he was convinced the
pain was coming from somewhere. He did some lab tests and got my
inflammatory count back, mine was 7x’s what the normal persons is. I
didn’t let that stop me though, I continued to do marching band, golf
and even added dance team. So at <b>age 15</b> I was sent to some doctor called
a <b>Rheumatologist</b>, at the time I had no idea who it was nor why I was
going there. My first visit the doctor looked at me and said I’m not too
worried about your knee right now I’m worried about your wrists and
ankles. Then it all made sense the pain I was putting up with as a
freshman, and it just continued. From there I was sent in for several
tests and started on some medications, along with scheduling several
MRI’s. I had an amazing doctor who was determined to find out what I had
and what he could do to help me. At <b>age 16</b> I decided to do swimming
instead of golf, along with continuing marching band, and dance team.
Swimming was not such a smart decision, the repetitive motion was
killer, so I switched to diving. Diving I found a true passion for I
loved it so much. The only issue is due to everything I could never get
as high as the other divers or stand as much as they could. I still
pressed on though. When it came to marching band everyone gave me so
much crap about my <b>invisible disease</b>, I was a faker in their eyes
because you couldn’t physically see the hurt, after that I was done. I
couldn’t handle going home crying every night because of the pain mixed
with the things that people would say to me. The rest of the year pretty
much went the same way the whole time I’m being put on a mix of
medications, none of them that ever did anything for me. Going into my
senior year at <b>age 17</b> things took a huge turn for the worse. Everything
hurt, my rib cage which made it hard to breathe, my back which made it
hard to sit in a chair, my ankles which made it hard to jump for diving,
my knees, <b>everything and anything that could hurt did</b>. Then I received
my diagnosis. <b>Ankylosing spondylitis</b>. It was hard to hear for so long I
feared the unknown, but now I was scared of the known and what the
future had in store for me. After that things continued to decline, I
was put on meds that made me sick. The pain grew to the point I had to
stop the activities that I love. It was all over terrible. It finally
hit a plateau going into my freshmen year of college. I stayed home and
went to a community college. And then here I am now. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1341635257363616" style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I’m going to be a
sophomore in college, I’m going to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix,
AZ. The reason I decided on there was because the constant dry heat. My
AS has not been doing too great, recently the doctor told me, that I may
not ever reach remission. I’m on sulfasalazine, relafen, remicade, and
temporarily on prednisione. It’s been a rough journey, I’m right now a
camp counselor at a YMCA camp, and I love it, but I would be lying if I
said that it was easy. The fact that I have AS will always make life a
little more complicated, sometimes I have to say no to things due to my
limits. Going through it at such a young age I think made it harder.
High school is hard enough already, but dealing with an invisible
disease that <b>people don’t understand </b>makes it even harder. One time I
recall my legs got so painful, I just couldn’t even walk on my own
anymore and so I used crutches. I became known as the class faker. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1341635257363616" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
wish people could understand that <b>arthritis is a tough thing and adults
aren’t the only ones suffering, kids get arthritis too</b>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;"> <i><b>IAAM's JA Awareness MOVEMENT....</b></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1341635257363616" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">What a great pleasure to have Alexa as the second </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">JA Guest Blogger on
both of my blogs. Thank you for sharing your personal story. If you have
any questions for Alexa, please ask the questions through me and
I will send them to her. If you have a JA Personal Story you would like
to share, please email your story to Dana at danalm_iaam@yahoo.com with
your title, blog name and URL, your name as you would like it published
on my two blogs and on IAAM's Facebook Public Pages. If you do not have
a blog, that is OK, you can still share your story, simply send me your
story in a Word Document with your picture attached and I will put it
into my blog for you. It is that simple. ;-)</span></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <br />
</span></i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whether you have JA, are a parent of someone with JA, or care for someone with JA, I am looking for <b>Guest Bloggers</b>!!!! It is <b>JA Awareness Month</b>, and <b>IAAM</b> is launching its <b>Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Movement</b>! We'll launch this
initiative on Monday <b>July 9th</b> so check back! Until then, a sneak
preview: JA isn't the same as having Degenerative Arthritis and <b>YOU</b> will
have the opportunity to tell the world why! Stay tuned, it's about to
get goooood ;). Watch out because <b>IAAM</b>'s new JA Campaign is gonna blow JA Awareness out of the water! In true <b>IAAM</b> style it will be a little
out-of-the-box and will allow <b>YOU</b> to shine! </span></span><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1341635257363616" style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b id="yui_3_2_0_6_1341635257363615"><br /></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Share this poster with your friends...see if they know the answer.</span></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
</b></i></span></span><br />
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</div>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-15420078074781426512012-07-07T00:49:00.002-04:002012-07-20T00:24:49.134-04:00My Journey with JRA<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">My name is <b>Shelley-Rose Cook</b>, and I’m
going to be a senior in High School in the fall. I’m <b>17</b>, and very soon going on
18! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">I’m told I started exhibiting JRA
symptoms when I was about <b>1-2 years old</b>, and was finally given the JRA
diagnosis when I was about 4-5 years old. I’m from south Florida, but due to my
parents’ jobs, I have been residing in Europe basically my whole life, and
going to one of the American schools overseas. However, I’m moving back home to
the US in one year, because I will be starting college! I have JRA, which recently
developed into Rheumatoid Arthritis, as well as Endometriosis.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">In terms of the effect of the illness,
I wish I had been told how my life would be affected. Although I was very young
when I was diagnosed and placed on a string of meds, due to an unfortunate
series of events about three years ago, I don’t really remember anything from
before that. As such, I do not really remember what it was like to have RA.
Ironically, during and after the series of unfortunate events, I was lucky
enough to experience a two-three year “hiatus” of the RA symptoms. However,
over the last seven months, my RA has come roaring back. Currently I have it in
both feet, knees, hips, and both wrists. In addition, the RA has been causing a
long &amp; serious bout of tendonitis too – located in both my feet, both
hands, and both knees. It’s been pretty painful! Another thing I wish I was
told – all the side effects of the meds! Frequent nausea/vomiting, headaches,
infections (and not just limited to the sinuses…), etc. Sometimes I get sad
and/or somewhat depressed because I’m “young, supposed to be out having fun and
being stupid”, and all that fun stuff. However, although the RA has affected my
life significantly over the last six months (i.e. I’m not able to go out and
have fun with my friends, and I have to miss a lot of school due to infections,
severe flares, and hospitalizations), I have tried not to let it affect my life
too much. I have a lot to look forward to in my life right now! One of the
things I’ve learned about having RA is that </span><span style="color: #333333;">you can't outsmart or beat your illness, but you can &amp; will
manage it well. It has taught me how to set my own limits, and how to
communicate them to others. I’ve also learned to enjoy the little things in
life! One of the things I’d like
to share with others or newly diagnosed people with RA is that you’re not
alone. There are many other people out there with the same or similar illness.
It can and will be difficult to find a decent health care professional, and at
the beginning it’ll be hard to navigate your way through this illness – all the
medical terms, the effects of the illness on your body and your life, all the
medication(s), etc. But fear not! There are plenty of resources available for
you and your loved ones/those helping you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">Side effects of the illness and medications will also be a big
blow, as well as the downs of having to suddenly deal with this new &amp;
prominent issue. However, you'll eventually come to a solution, find
medication(s), and a system that works for you. Your life will certainly be
different than it was, but you can still manage to live your life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">Having to learn &amp; deal with RA has come at an unfortunate
and difficult time in my life - I'm 17. At this age, everyone your age is out; living
their life - being young, foolish, and living their life as they want. The RA,
among other personal issues, has been known to lead me down a dark path during
and at various times, which is and can be really scary. Somehow I’ve managed to
come out the other side a better person, which I count as a blessing! If I had
to sum up one silver lining about having RA, I'd have to say it's made me mature
beyond my years, for which I am grateful. Henry Ford once said, “Whether you
think that you can, or that you can’t, you are usually right.” This quote has
and continues to help me significantly! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>IAAM's JA Awareness MOVEMENT....</b></i></span><br />
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;"> I
was honored to have Shelley-Rose Cook as the first JA Guest Blogger on
both of my blogs. Thank you for sharing your personal story. If you have
any questions for Shelley-Rose, please ask the questions through me and
I will send them to her. If you have a JA Personal Story you would like
to share, please email your story to Dana at danalm_iaam@yahoo.com with
your title, blog name and URL, your name as you would like it published
on my two blogs and on IAAM's Facebook Public Pages. If you do not have
a blog, that is OK, you can still share your story, simply send me your
story in a Word Document with your picture attached and I will put it
into my blog for you. It is that simple. ;-)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whether you have JA, are a parent of someone with JA, or care for someone with JA, I am looking for </span><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Guest Bloggers</b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">!!!! It is </span><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">JA Awareness Month</b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, and </span><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">IAAM</b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> is launching its </span><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Movement</b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">! We'll launch this
initiative on Monday <b>July 9th</b> so check back! Until then, a sneak
preview: JA isn't the same as having Degenerative Arthritis and <b>YOU</b> will
have the opportunity to tell the world why! Stay tuned, it's about to
get goooood ;). Watch out because </span><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">IAAM</b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">'s new JA Campaign is gonna blow JA Awareness out of the water! I</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">n true </span><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">IAAM</b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> style it will be a little
out-of-the-box and will allow </span><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">YOU</b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> to shine! </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-TFpq4aHUgRlueCjW5Vil7-sT4Wjyd6rdXiCtb9CyQETJ1IJbiCKlbggKVxQlHd5MqDjNDzfJcsEcEzGb7YowFMDAXjIOl2x_RUwphZuMimquJFDNiF1uxBK8LEaN4-dmdhqD0zHXwg/s1600/differentiate-degenerative-and-autoimmune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-TFpq4aHUgRlueCjW5Vil7-sT4Wjyd6rdXiCtb9CyQETJ1IJbiCKlbggKVxQlHd5MqDjNDzfJcsEcEzGb7YowFMDAXjIOl2x_RUwphZuMimquJFDNiF1uxBK8LEaN4-dmdhqD0zHXwg/s400/differentiate-degenerative-and-autoimmune.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This poster was designed by IAAM for World Autoimmune Arthritis Day 2012
(held on May 20th). This JA Awareness Movement will be the 1st of
many subjects we will revisit from WAAD. And you thought World
Autoimmune Arthritis Day was over...pshhh, you're not getting rid of us
that easily ;)</span></span></div>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-27849333249046329402012-07-05T17:53:00.002-04:002012-07-05T17:53:32.622-04:00ATTENTION Juvenile Arthritis Bloggers: Looking for Guest Bloggers!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Attention Juvenile Arthritis Bloggers, Writers and Authors.</span></b> Whether you have JA, are a parent of someone with JA, or care for someone with JA, I am looking for <b>Guest Bloggers</b>!!!! It is <b>JA Awareness Month</b>, and <b>IAAM</b> is launching its <b>Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Movement</b>! <span>We'll launch this
initiative on Monday <b>July 9th</b> so check back! Until then, a sneak
preview: JA isn't the same as having Degenerative Arthritis and <b>YOU</b> will
have the opportunity to tell the world why! Stay tuned, it's about to
get goooood ;). </span>Watch out because <b>IAAM</b>'s new JA Campaign is gonna blow JA Awareness out of the water! I<span>n true <b>IAAM</b> style it will be a little
out-of-the-box and will allow <b>YOU</b> to shine! </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>I am looking for <b>Guest Bloggers</b> to appear on both of <b>my blogs</b> and on <b>IAAM's public Facebook pages</b>. If you are interested in being a <b>Guest Blogger</b>, please send me a <b>Personal Story of JA</b>. It can be about you <b>personally</b>, <b>your child</b>, someone <b>you know</b> or someone you <b>take care of</b>. We need to spread <b>AWARENESS</b> so make sure your story is a <b>true representation</b> of a person with <b>JA</b> to help others understand what it is like to <b>live</b> with JA, to <b>love</b> someone with JA and to be a <b>child</b> with a disease that is all too often confused with what old people get. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Email</b> your <b>Personal Story of JA</b> to Dana at <b>danalm_iaam@yahoo.com</b> and include the <b>post title</b>, the <b>blog title</b> and url. If you do not have a blog and have it in Word, then send me the Word Document. Make sure you give me <b>your name</b> as you would like it to be published on my blogs and the IAAM public Facebook pages. Also, please give me a couple sentences that <b>summarize your story</b>. I will try to publish all the stories that I receive. Thank you!</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyd33ESHj5pmT37x0tbJzLtd6x2nCfXWcYXUg7I-AFwqjkUvNidWkpaPCeL1tY35GYHD2cjAf0kCBEp2_RHCIn-FnKQ0rIlOvmACYSXb59N6jy9mLmarSjFTGpC1mZYSVDTTOKrsZqwKL7/s1600/dont-look-sick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyd33ESHj5pmT37x0tbJzLtd6x2nCfXWcYXUg7I-AFwqjkUvNidWkpaPCeL1tY35GYHD2cjAf0kCBEp2_RHCIn-FnKQ0rIlOvmACYSXb59N6jy9mLmarSjFTGpC1mZYSVDTTOKrsZqwKL7/s640/dont-look-sick.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>This poster was designed by IAAM for World Autoimmune Arthritis Day 2012
(held on May 20th). This JA Awareness Movement will be the 1st of
many subjects we will revisit from WAAD. And you thought World
Autoimmune Arthritis Day was over...pshhh, you're not getting rid of us
that easily ;)</span></span></div>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-39906582201850739162012-07-03T23:59:00.005-04:002012-07-20T00:26:37.593-04:00JA Isn't The Same as Having Degenerative Arthritis...<span style="font-size: large;">IAAM is gearing up to launch a MAJOR JA Awareness Campaign in honor of
JA Awareness Month and in true IAAM style it will be a little
out-of-the-box and will allow YOU to shine! <br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We'll launch this
initiative on Monday July 8th so check back! Until then, a sneak
preview: JA isn't the same as having Degenerative Arthritis and YOU will
have the opportunity to tell the world why! Stay tuned, it's about to
get goooood ;). </span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWruWnhO9eZYUaYiAM9Mthymm6M43ZpMplPdfvyi8CqUe51pFVg4FtiwGdMKgYnQlnuk26-mKpjxwWvqy8dgCtmvoSUSI9GPLTx-IsBJJyvvL-335XpqiNt3HYYrEi2cwu3LsY26KXI7U/s1600/born-with-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWruWnhO9eZYUaYiAM9Mthymm6M43ZpMplPdfvyi8CqUe51pFVg4FtiwGdMKgYnQlnuk26-mKpjxwWvqy8dgCtmvoSUSI9GPLTx-IsBJJyvvL-335XpqiNt3HYYrEi2cwu3LsY26KXI7U/s640/born-with-it.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This poster was designed by IAAM for World Autoimmune Arthritis Day 2012
(held on May 20th). This JA Awareness initiative will be the 1st of
many subjects we will revisit from WAAD. And you thought World
Autoimmune Arthritis Day was over...pshhh, you're not getting rid of us
that easily ;)</span><br />
<br />Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-70670169283374781152012-06-18T01:28:00.005-04:002012-06-18T11:56:51.992-04:00Chronically Guilty Video Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KqVIqYm0qx8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /><a href="http://youtu.be/KqVIqYm0qx8">http://youtu.be/KqVIqYm0qx8</a>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-21106173907136642522012-06-17T03:08:00.003-04:002012-06-17T03:10:58.459-04:00People like myself CAN raise a child; there's no reason you should be denied this beautiful experience!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzdRtBUleqRIg8CpEyDhZn7uym_ljudr20lPSI6cDFF1My6HPPjYV_Mb1EyDrLKStfonYgU70NPxMO9yoYC7iFpAVbd6I29Am0-FxYqhnqTvaN5Um5iMSSekoIuXtOLw_EP_Aern99hip/s1600/p12584ta104281_7_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzdRtBUleqRIg8CpEyDhZn7uym_ljudr20lPSI6cDFF1My6HPPjYV_Mb1EyDrLKStfonYgU70NPxMO9yoYC7iFpAVbd6I29Am0-FxYqhnqTvaN5Um5iMSSekoIuXtOLw_EP_Aern99hip/s400/p12584ta104281_7_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Most moms don't have to worry about what a chronic pain mom has to worry about. Day to day fears that we have almost seem like they couldn't ever be real fears, but they are. For me, with my Avascular Necrosis and Autoimmune Arthritis Diseases, I already have real fears that I am faced with before I lift my head off the pillow that I carry around with me all day long until I place my head back down on that same pillow. We get used to it in a sense. Realistically, we don't really get used to it, but we learn to live with it and how to deal with it from day to day. We learn how to add to our life of chaos a partner, a spouse. For me, it is a husband of 12 years this past June 10th. He knew partially what he was getting into, but when we met 18 years ago, I didn't really know what my life was headed toward so I could only warn him of what I already knew. Later, if we are ready, well as ready as we will ever be, we can add to our lives a child, and even later maybe another child. The chaos does not get any easier to deal with, believe me. We have an 18 month old, as of Thursday June 14th. He is quite active, a very physical child, much more active than I was at that age. He is doing things now that I didn't begin doing until I was 5 years old or even older (well not the talking; I had that down by 11 months, and still nobody has been able to shut me up).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwJWVLbAE0baUhwIoFVF8DkAygsS49dDjoTBYPgBd7tzV3RBJnqhp7q7xKhfmYvSQnTcaRP0O_WlE0HMBb4D6PeVJDBwM2OAQlW1DEAGYKWMJMzcP67uKrkUA8PHPl7oxDDCJWyGCBqlp/s1600/p12584ta104281_19_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwJWVLbAE0baUhwIoFVF8DkAygsS49dDjoTBYPgBd7tzV3RBJnqhp7q7xKhfmYvSQnTcaRP0O_WlE0HMBb4D6PeVJDBwM2OAQlW1DEAGYKWMJMzcP67uKrkUA8PHPl7oxDDCJWyGCBqlp/s400/p12584ta104281_19_0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So Michael is now 18 months old, as I was saying. He runs, jumps, sings, knows his alphabet, counts to 5, speaks 2 languages (English and Spanish), eats with a fork, knows his colors, can work a smart phone, has been able to work the stereo since he was 6 months old, can work the DVD player, can work the TV remote, loves blocks, books, and cars...He is tall, thin and handsome. I love him more than I thought I could ever love another human being. I knew going into this, adopting Michael, that it wouldn't be easy. For me, there is not a lot that IS easy. It isn't easy to clean, cook, get dressed, eat a meal with utensils, bathe, walk (not always), paint my nails, put my make-up on, fix my hair, floss my teeth, etc. You get the jist of it. Many people questioned why I would adopt a child and how I would be able to do it. People like myself who have chronic pain diseases and disabilities such as Avascular Necrosis and Autoimmune Arthritis, etc. CAN raise and take care of a child. It is not always easy, and it may not always be done by the way the books say to do it. But it definitely CAN be done. There is no reason why a person like myself should be denied this beautiful experience.<br />
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Right now it is a difficult time. I am going through such horrible guilt. I had to get my right hip replaced on May 10th. It almost completely collapsed just after the holidays 2011. My hubby and I agreed the best time to schedule my surgery would be the beginning of the summer when he didn't have to teach so he could help me out as much as possible. I had the other hip replaced 8 1/2 years ago. Back then it was also just the 2 of us since we live away from family, but we also didn't have a child. Adding to the mix this time around is Michael. We were on the wait list to get him into full time day care at the day school he was attending a couple 1/2 days already. I had been sending him there a couple 1/2 days so he could be around other kids his age and around illnesses to build up his immune system. I started that when he was 9 months old. Now he is attending full time which is Mondays through Fridays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. This helps us out because Jim can drop him off in the morning, go to work, and then pick him up on his way him. I am home all day by myself, but I don't have to worry about Mick. He is taken care of. It is a great place, religiously, socially, and educationally. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2ArsuiwCacLGykVJZ-k2mBC1SqYNK1e7WctS72xQr-ENnAc_7fxEk6JuRmfcQlZ-WUn5oleU7EcuXSYjbSayIfpuJnd5qPXb2QRf19xzUUd4u9QkP_lofdqekpVHIg5b0RkoddIpHH5R/s1600/15-16monthsMick+118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2ArsuiwCacLGykVJZ-k2mBC1SqYNK1e7WctS72xQr-ENnAc_7fxEk6JuRmfcQlZ-WUn5oleU7EcuXSYjbSayIfpuJnd5qPXb2QRf19xzUUd4u9QkP_lofdqekpVHIg5b0RkoddIpHH5R/s400/15-16monthsMick+118.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The hard part is that Jim goes to work all day, and he takes care of Mick in the morning and the evening. He gets up with Mick in the morning to give him breakfast, gives him his bath at night and puts him down at night. He also gets up with him in the night if he has a rough night. Meanwhile, I do nothing!!!!!!!!!! I am recovering so well. I am walking without any assistive device! I have precautions though. I cannot bend over past 90 degrees. I can't turn my foot inward or twist, and I cannot cross my legs over each other. I also cannot lift or carry Mick. That is huge!!! For a while I was on the couch with a gate around me so he couldn't get to me. I called it my island. Mick would throw toys my way to play with him. I would just toss them back. If I had to use the bathroom, Jim would take Mick into another room so he didn't see me move from my island. So sad..........<br />
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So now that I'm walking around more, Mick is following me around more. We are allowing him to walk up to me and sit on my lap for a bit, but he tries to climb down and back up. When he does this, he pushes off my leg with the new hip which isn't a good idea. Also, he tries to climb behind me which causes me to lean forward which could make me go past 90 degrees easily. He doesn't understand why mommy can't get on the floor and play, why mommy doesn't go for walks with him and daddy, why mommy doesn't sit at the dinner table to eat with him and daddy, why mommy doesn't pick him up, why mommy doesn't come in and get him out of his bed, why mommy doesn't give him a bath, why mommy doesn't hold him ever anymore.............<br />
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I have such a hard time myself, just watching.........<br />
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My hubby is beginning to lose his patience. He is having a hard time looking at me on the couch all the time. He has a hard time believing I can't do anything to help him with Mick. Many times I just look at him while he is having a hard time with him. I am thinking how horrible I feel that I can't help, while he tells me he can't believe that I can't do anything yet because he thinks I'm moving around so well.<br />
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Thing is that this whole thing can be so frustrating! We can appear as though we are doing so great. We feel better. After the diseased hip is removed and replaced with a new metal hip, the pain is gone. We have the surgical pain for a while until the incision is healed because they cut through muscle and tissue. Also, we are doing physical therapy and rebuilding that muscle so there is some muscle pain. We begin doing more things. We stop using an assistive device. And if you are anything like me, type A personality, you will try to do as much as possible, pushing the line of the precautions. I have been cooking, putting laundry in the wash and from washer to dryer, swimming, putting clothes in the closet and drawers, playing with Mick on the couch, walking more, and trying to do more with Mick without going against my precautions. So I am pushing it, and perhaps too hard. I fell on Thursday. I was frying a hot dog for Mick, and I dropped something on the floor. I have been picking stuff off the floor by extending the hip replacement leg back straight so that when I bend down to the ground I am only past 90 degrees on the other hip replacement side. Well, when I bent down, I hit my head on the counter, lost my balance set my foot down just as I reached what had fallen to the floor, basically touching both my toes and then falling. Bad news!! Not only did I risk dislocating my hip while bending over, but falling certainly didn't help!<br />
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When Jim came into the kitchen, I was crying. He told me to go back to the couch, and he would continue making the hot dog for Mick. I told him I was fine and that I would finish it for him. I did.<br />
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Today, I was getting ready to eat a bowl of cereal on the couch, when Mick came charging through, and he fell right in front of me and hit his front teeth on the coffee table. Jim and I were both so upset. I was upset because I couldn't get to him soon enough, and if I could, I might have risked dislocating my hip in the process. Jim was upset because he feels so overwhelmed. He thinks it's so hard to work, take care of a child and take care of me. After 3 months, my precautions will be lifted, and he shouldn't have so much stress on him anymore.<br />
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I told him that there is a reason that I am the one that needs to get joint replacements. If he can't handle the stress with what he is dealing with right now for a few months, how could he ever deal with the stress we all deal with all the time.<br />
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I think that our lives are always stressful. We have to know how to cope, or we would totally lose our minds, we would stroke out, or have blood pressure through the roof! When I watch him totally fall apart over these things, I think about how we all have learned how to simply balance our lives. I think that is the answer to everything~balance. I keep telling my husband that he needs to balance and prioritize his days. He wants to do everything and please everyone. He could never have a chronic illness!!!! He was so worried about having the bathrooms cleaned before my parents came in town to help me out while he went out of town. They were coming to help. They could clean the bathrooms. No more stress. Problem solved. Instead he made himself sick over the whole thing because he couldn't find the time to clean the bathroom.<br />
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He was so upset about Mick falling today also. He kept putting it on himself. He was saying things like he couldn't handle another stressor. I told him to give Mick some ice water to drink. There was nothing else to do for him. His tooth was fine. They won't stitch his gums. Gums will bleed a lot because of it being in the mouth. It is the third time he has hit his gums above his front teeth. The other 2 times were at day care playing outside when he was first learning to walk. There is nothing you can do about it. When I try to calm him down, he gets upset. He needs to figure it out for himself I guess. But, for sure, you can ask anyone, we as chronics, are the best at organizing our time because we know what will overdo it, what will be too much, what will wear us out, what will be just over the line for us. Perhaps we should teach a class.........<br />
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As for the guilt..........I don't know about that. I think as chronics, we will always have it. It is hard not to. On one hand, we can do anything we want, anything we put our minds to. On the other hand, many of the things we do are done differently. We can't always do what we say we were going to do, so we can't make promises because we don't know if we can keep them. That is hard when you have kids. Wanting to be normal is always a dream although we most likely will never achieve it. We can always do things differently which makes raising a child possible. My husband and I have raised Mick for 18 months without any help until my hip replacement. I think that is proof that it is very possible especially since normally I am home all day with him while Jim works. Jim comes home, and he gives him his bath and puts him to bed. That is our normal. That always worked out fine.<br />
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I just want to say to all of you mommies with chronic pain, chronic illnesses like me, don't give up. Keep up the good work. It is father's day, so happy father's day, daddies, and thanks to all the fathers who have helped all of us mom's out so much. We appreciate it so much! Moms need to know that the dads believe in the moms, and the dads need to respect the moms. Listen to each other. Love one another. Do what you can for each other because what you do to help each other is really helping your little ones.<br />
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<br />Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-64145346307518409122012-04-05T01:23:00.000-04:002012-04-05T01:23:32.033-04:00I Never Knew What I Feared The Most Until I Became A Mommy...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUFTF6Dhav_a1fcr9Ym9uOQB4iQtRHFHf6ZfQg-ETQeqGs-ayeMGXtD6SgSlzkvO4XTAtskXEsx2LFcWN9PLsBgmf-FNBj817ATjbpoQPbXGyA1AImjJqMWktArrIPQP1LB3tP9sZTBT9/s1600/iaamovementWAADposter_dana4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUFTF6Dhav_a1fcr9Ym9uOQB4iQtRHFHf6ZfQg-ETQeqGs-ayeMGXtD6SgSlzkvO4XTAtskXEsx2LFcWN9PLsBgmf-FNBj817ATjbpoQPbXGyA1AImjJqMWktArrIPQP1LB3tP9sZTBT9/s400/iaamovementWAADposter_dana4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This blog post is for the MOWer's topic "Fear."<br />
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I have known for years about my autoimmune arthritis (Psoriatic Arthritis, Sjogren's, possible A.S. and Lupus). I have known even longer about my Avascular Necrosis (of the hips, shoulders and knees). When you have diseases that are chronic like this and that have serious effects on the body as a whole, you have a lot of fears about what <i>could</i> happen to you in the near future, in the distant future. Other people don't always realize how frightening it is to live your life with all these diseases, syndromes and conditions. Yes, you get used to the <i>chronic</i> lifestyle to a certain extent, but you never truly erase from your mind that other people are living <i>normal</i>, healthy lives every single day. For those that were <i>always sick</i>, you would not necessarily remember feeling <i>normal</i> unless you were not diagnosed until you were older, and you felt <i>well </i>even though you were <i>sick</i>. But for those that actually were <i>normal</i> for period of time, you may actually remember feeling <i>well</i>, and now are able to compare <i>normal</i> to <i>chronic</i>. For me, I give the age 19 when I began going to doctors by myself. I was in college and on my own. I knew something was wrong with me and sought out help to find out exactly what was wrecking havoc on my body. In hindsight, though, I was one of those people who was possibly <i>always sick</i> but did not necessarily remember feeling <i>sick</i> because I wasn't diagnosed with anything until I was older. I might have felt <i>well</i> even though I was <i>sick</i>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoyDpI3rNcvALP87xaGo4Q6ftYepPM0Ro2UM3MGs9Gt-Q-eVFGAOae2zxpfqFpYJ19pv0WqaoBkDk4e6fv-RZcyrg5mFVwCeNK94hRDWCQGaWULDFguBd8nQRmFmZ3U0sqlQrsLy2RWfg/s1600/dec2011+202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoyDpI3rNcvALP87xaGo4Q6ftYepPM0Ro2UM3MGs9Gt-Q-eVFGAOae2zxpfqFpYJ19pv0WqaoBkDk4e6fv-RZcyrg5mFVwCeNK94hRDWCQGaWULDFguBd8nQRmFmZ3U0sqlQrsLy2RWfg/s400/dec2011+202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Fear. I fear being diagnosed with yet another autoimmune arthritis. I fear the side effects of my meds, especially the side effects that I don't see, the silent ones that could be harming me and I don't even know it. I fear that my meds will stop working. I fear the pain will get worse. I fear I will need more pain meds. I have been on the same amount of pain meds since 2002, and have not changed nor do I intend on changing it. I fear getting sicker. I fear that my hubby will decide I am too much to deal with and leave me. I fear that I will end up all alone.<br />
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My biggest fear, now that I have a son who is 15 months old, is that I will not be able to be the best Mommy I can be. I know that I love my son with all my heart, and he loves me as well. I know that I would do anything for him, for his safety, for his happiness, to see him laugh and smile. What happens if a day comes when I can't do something for him? That is my biggest fear.<br />
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When I was told that the autoimmune arthritis had gone to my spine, neck and S.I. joints, I got so scared, not for me that I would have pain, lack of mobility or anything about my self. It was purely selfless. It was all about my son. What if this limited me with my son? I was so afraid. I had to do something. I am making sure to keep on exercising to keep my spine gently moving all the time. Aqua aerobics and belly dancing is working best for me. I feel really great doing that, and it is helping with the pain and mobility. When I stop moving, the stiffness, decreased range of motion and pain come back full force!<br />
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Then, an even bigger fear occurred! I had already had my left hip replaced in 2003, and then my right shoulder collapsed in October, 2009. I had my shoulder replaced in March 2010. Nine months later, we adopted our gorgeous little boy! I felt like it all happened in that order so that it would be easier to take care of him. I had a brand new shoulder and one good leg! I thought I would be able to keep up with him easier than say 10 years ago even. Well, that was true, three months ago. Then, the right hip started, clicking, sticking, popping and giving me more pain. I knew what it meant, but didn't want to believe it. I feared the worst.<br />
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My orthopaedic surgeon told me it was in the final stage of Avascular Necrosis, and it needs to be replaced as soon as possible. I am doing my best to keep up with a 15 month old as he races through our home. He throws a ball and runs after it now! He wants to play all the time. He dances to my belly dance music with me too. I am doing OK with the pain. I am still keeping up with my son and housework and even still belly dancing. I just fear that I am going to lose out on some important time now with my son. I am going to get it replaced May 10, 2012. That means I will have all summer to rehab. I won't be able to hold my son for a few months, get on the floor and play with him, bathe him, clothe him, run after him and play like he does.<br />
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So I am watching my biggest fear unfold before my eyes. I am losing control of my body again. The hip is collapsing. I am losing mobility fast. Soon I will have my surgery, which is a pretty extensive surgery by the way! Then rehab is a bitch! At least 3 months of intense rehab without holding and being the main caregiver/caretaker of my only son~perhaps the only son I will ever have.<br />
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So to get through a fear that is unfolding before my eyes, I must show courage. My son must see that his mommy is brave, strong and courageous. I want him to learn that although his mommy has all these health problems, she will never stop loving him. I will always be his mommy. As soon as I recover, I will be better than before, a new model! We will run and jump and play more than before. I don't think I will put him down. He will forget how to walk himself!<br />
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Children of mommies with chronic illnesses are the strongest, bravest, smartest, and also they are able to show more empathy and sympathy because they lived with their mommy and helped their mommy. I think it teaches them how to love, care and nurture. I shouldn't really fear because I am raising the perfect child!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhBn0R1QL9vV_RFqoNp-vR2SVUD8IxHku1ggCkwttazmjZQ6Hz785hcWX6HVbjGaK1khwwRSwHq-ShUV4gD-ly-zuh5DyH9FG4SAI5JQwYyfcyp72Di3S9n9dKMSsW1S0oV0WCk72Ycr7/s1600/dec2011+069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhBn0R1QL9vV_RFqoNp-vR2SVUD8IxHku1ggCkwttazmjZQ6Hz785hcWX6HVbjGaK1khwwRSwHq-ShUV4gD-ly-zuh5DyH9FG4SAI5JQwYyfcyp72Di3S9n9dKMSsW1S0oV0WCk72Ycr7/s400/dec2011+069.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604122574877461469.post-79014470642136764822011-11-18T00:32:00.001-05:002012-07-20T00:29:11.914-04:00I Can Be a Mommy & Have a Chronic Illness!<h3 class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://gavertarm2bambidextrous.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-can-be-mommy-have-chronic-illness.html">I Can Be a Mommy & Have a Chronic Illness!</a> </h3>
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<b>In a previously published Chronic Babe's "I can do it!" </b>we talked about something you thought chronic illness would never let you do until you mustered up the courage and went for it. <br />
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As you know from following my blog <a href="http://gavertarm2bambidextrous.blogspot.com/2011/">I Already Gave My Right Arm To Be Ambidextrous!</a>, my hubby and I had been trying to adopt a baby for about 6 years now, and you also know that I have several chronic illnesses that cause pain, fatigue, disability and joint replacements (among other things). Well, I have always thought of myself as a brave person and a strong woman. I was strong long before the chronic illnesses became permanent, so at least I had a good foundation! I never realized how strong or how courageous I truly was until my body tested me to the extremes, and daily life became more and more challenging. I realized when I became so overwhelmed that I just needed to step back and take a good look at myself. I had gotten overlooked. It was awfully foggy at the time and hard to see ME through all the CHRONIC STUFF! When I finally took a good hard look at myself, I realized that I didn't change at all. My health changed. I was still the same Dana that I had always been; well, I was a bit more experienced and a lot more educated about the world. I didn't realize that of course until I saw myself again for the first time.<br />
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I still had the same hopes and dreams; the same values; the same beliefs; the same goals. I had to tweak a lot of things to fit a newer, different lifestyle, but above all, I found out that I can accomplish anything and everything I set out to. Now I have to constantly tell myself, remind myself if you will, that things that once were accomplished easier, faster, and more directly are now done more slowly, carefully and what seems to appear as a more round-about way. It is an amazing discovery! I can have chronic illnesses, have goals, accomplish goals, and not lose sight of ME! I love it.<br />
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So what is so important about this. Well to me, and to all of you with similar issues, when you become Chronic Illness instead of Dana, that actually becomes your identity. You lose yourself. You lose that want for life, to live for anything including yourself. I'm not even being extreme. I'm not even talking about suicide or anything like that, although it could get that bad for some people if you don't find yourself quick enough. For me, I lost who I truly was--my spunk, my love to laugh, to dance, to see the beauty in things, and to want anything for myself.<br />
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When my hubby and I were married, nearly 11 years ago, we vowed to have a family. We new we wouldn't be complete without children. That was something that we wanted for ourselves for so long. Although, we continued to go through adoption agency after agency, the foster care system, and even adoption facilitators (as well as advertising with a facilitator online), a part of me thought it would never happen after approaching the 6 1/2 year mark. I began to fear that maybe it was God's way of telling me that I "couldn't" do it, I "couldn't" be a mommy. I started to bury the goal beneath the chronic illnesses. We signed with a new adoption place in December of '09. I started to come out of the fog and realize that I needed to start working toward that goal, to be a mommy. I knew if I didn't find that hidden "mommy" inside me, she would be lost forever. I knew I didn't want to lose that want. It was something that was highest on my list of goals. We made a promise to ourselves and God on our wedding day to have a family, and here I was, 35 years old, still childless!<br />
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The moment we began with this adoption place, filled out paperwork, had our physicals, got our fingerprints and background checks, and did our home study, Dana had surfaced! I once again was getting those wonderful "mommy" feelings! Thank God. We waited and waited with this place to be matched with a birth mother. It felt like eternity! I knew there was a baby out there for us, and that was a good sign to me that I was hopeful once again to be a "mommy." We right away put the nursery together, decided on a theme (forest animals), began decorating, and we bought our first baby layette of bath towels and onesies and set it in the nursery. Jim put the crib together. We made our photo album up to handout to birth mothers that fit our preferences. We were open to any gender, up to a year old, any race or creed and a sibling up to age 8 as well. We began to prepare family and friends. We had our website put together and were linked to as many as 15-20 other websites. We even made a video welcoming a birth mother and baby into our home. I painted a gigantic heart tree and hung it behind the crib. We waited...<br />
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The most important thing here is that the waiting wasn't painful. We prayed a lot and had faith that there was a baby out there for us. We thought the baby would most likely be of another race because of statistics, so we prepared family and friends for that. And we waited...patiently...I actually had something in my life to wait for, to dwell on, to pray about besides my chronic illnesses. It was a welcome change of pace.<br />
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Then, when it felt like time had stood still, we got a phone call in October, the week before my mom's birthday. A birth mother and her mom had chosen us to parent. Wait a minute...What did she just say? OMG! The first thought that came to mind was, already? After 10 months with this adoption place, I suddenly felt like we hadn't waited that long. I know, too funny, right?! Jim was out of town at a university outside of Philly for the weekend. He hardly ever goes out of town, but he was attending a conference. He was in the middle of a Nor'easter as well! It took him 3 hours to drive 70 miles! I hadn't heard from him in hours. I was worried and excited all at once. I didn't want to call him while he was in a storm, so I waited for him to get to his hotel. I didn't want to make a decision to speak with the birth mother and her mother without talking with my hubby first about the situation. It's only right; after all, we are a team!<br />
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I explained the situation to Jim who safely arrived at the hotel. He was so excited as well. The next day, the birth mother's mother called me at home. We spoke for two hours on the phone and hit it off well. Then I spoke briefly with the birth mother. She was very sweet. I told them that they could speak with Jim when he returned home. They agreed, but felt so far that they wanted to go ahead with this. I also agreed. Jim talked to the birth mother 2 days later. It went well. We talked all 3 of us for a while on speaker phone too. We laughed about Jim playing sports, and whether or not Michael would be a good athlete or not. She wanted us to name him Michael Robert. We agreed. We agreed to raise him Catholic like ourselves, to say the rosary, to send pictures of him to the family. We had no problem doing this. Michael was going to be our son!...<br />
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Meanwhile, our last name was leaked somehow by the adoption place. We don't know how, but what was done, was done. They googled me and found out that I had several chronic illnesses--joint diseases. Our adoption coordinator contacted me to say they were having second thoughts. I was devastated! Was I right in the beginning to think I couldn't be a mom? Was I not cut out to be a mom after all? When the birth mother's mother called me, she said some awful things to me about my illnesses and my inabilities to be a mom to Michael. She obviously didn't realize that there are people who are great moms who are in wheelchairs, who don't have the ability to use their arms, who can't walk, who are blind or deaf. To some, these are seen as inabilities to be a mother, but to those that are moms and "can do it", they are just differences. They take care of their children but find other ways to reach the same outcomes. I couldn't think of how to change their minds. I felt so hopeless and helpless, I felt myself slipping back behind the chronic illnesses again. I began to lose Dana and the mommy I was to become in less than 2 months. Think fast! What to do? I offered to fly up to meet them. I offered to have my rheumatologist call them and let them know that I am perfectly capable of taking care of a child...<br />
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They just needed time...<br />
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Time for me at that moment just made me slip further and further behind the cloud...Then the phone rang. They agreed to speak with my rheumatologist. I don't know what he said to them, but after I arranged for a time for him to contact the family, 24 hours later, the birth mother's mother called and left a message for us to contact her. We called back immediately. She said that they thought about it all, and they picked us for who we are as a family and how we will raise Michael. Anyone can get sick or hurt at anytime, and we have no control over it, so they wanted us to parent Michael. We said thanks and that we had prayed so hard over this. We felt so connected to Michael already, calling him Michael to everyone we know. He had a name, he was our son already! The phone call we received was the weekend of the feast day of St. Gerard Majella, the patron saint of childbirth and motherhood, also my mom's birthday. Michael was due on the Immaculate Conception. We prayed to St. Anthony every single day for a miracle. All of a sudden, we received a wrist rosary with St. Anthony on it, then a St. Anthony key chain, and while visiting friends in Boston, I looked in the directory to find the nearest Catholic church. 2 minutes from our hotel was the Shrine of St. Anthony. We lit a candle there and said a prayer again for a miracle! Also, our hotel # was 128, which was his due date 12/8. The birth mother and her mother gave us a gift of a picture of the Holy Family: Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. We were still in the hotel for the feast of the Holy Family because we were out of town the entire holiday season. We found out also that the birth mother's middle name was Mary and the birth mother's mother's middle name was Joe, so Michael was like Baby Jesus at the Inn! So many wonderful religious significances in the birth of our baby. We are going to baptize him June 26 which is the weekend of the feast of St. John the Baptizer! Might as well keep with the theme!<br />
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Ok, so speaking of theme; I found out that I can be a mommy! I am a darn good mommy. I am home with Michael every day while Jim is at work. I have been feeling great. I am able to do everything that any other mom can do, but sometimes I just have to go about it a different way. I might have to lay him across my lap or carry him in sling. I might have to prop him up on a pillow and feed him a bottle that way. I might have to have Jim open the formula cans so I can pour it into the bottles. Some days, we have lazy days together where we lay in bed together and play in bed. He has adjusted well with his mommy and her chronic illnesses. Ya know, that is the only way he knows it after all. It is normal to him. I change his diapers just fine. As a matter of fact, as long as the supplies are all laid out so I can easily reach them and get to them, we get those messy poopy diapers taken care of in jiff! We have lots of fun together. I am enjoying being a mom so much. Thank God I didn't keep Mommy Dana hidden behind Chronic Illness. I am so much more than that!<br />
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Our big adventures are going to the Farmer's Market together, doctor's appointments (he knows all my doctors now), and taking walks with the stroller and his furry brother Cookie! Life is so beautiful again! I'm so glad I have Michael to share it with, to teach about life and love, and to understand about people with chronic illnesses. He will be such a compassionate and understanding person because he had ME for a MOMMY! All because I decided to search for myself again!<br />
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Thanks for listening!Dana Asmara Morningstar-Martonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11825644957086048495noreply@blogger.com0