I’m very happy to report that the Inhibitor Summits are back this summer. Two Summits are scehduled, one in Houston and one here in Boston.
August 5-8, 2010 — Houston, TX
August 19-22, 2010 — Boston, MA
Come join other people with hemophilia A or B with inhibitors and their families for a weekend of education designed to improve your overall health and quality of life.
REGISTER NOW! http://www.nhfinhibitorsummits.org/
From the NHF announcement: Having an inhibitor can seem overwhelming at times that even day-to-day life can be a challenge. This can affect your well-being in ways that only other people with this condition can understand. The annual Inhibitor Education Summits connect people with inhibitors, their caregivers and members of their support network with expert healthcare professionals. They also connect you with others who have been where you are–people who can share their experiences or suggest a coping skill.
New this year:
Multiple educational tracks
Exciting Youth Camp activities planned for kids ages 4-12
Coping mechanisms for improving the psychological well-being of patients and their caregivers
To register or for more information, visit the NHF Inhibitor Summits Web site, call 877-560-5833, or e-mail inhibitorsummits@hemophilia.org. Travel and lodging assistance is available for eligible patients and their caregiver(s).
Atención: los representantes hablan español.
This educational program series is provided by the National Hemophilia Foundation and supported by an educational grant from Novo Nordisk.
Hope to see you there! Register today!
Great Book I Just Read
Tears in the Darkness
Michael and Elizabeth Norman
This book, about the horrific Bataan Death March in the Philippines in World War II surprised me. It’s told mostly through the eyes of ordinary soldiers, one in particular, Ben Steele, a 20-something year old, budding artist from Montana. The book chronicles the war-fever (Steele’s own mother encourages him to sign up for military service), the surrender of 76,000 Americans and Filipinos to the Japanese in the Bataan peninsula, and the infamous death march that led to the starvation, dehydration, beatings and executions of so many. Japanese military brutality is on display with a candidness that is chilling. The suffering Ben Steele endures, along with his fellow prisoners, is almost not to be believed. Ben eventually becomes a POW, and becasue he is sick, is put in sick bay, where he bides his time be sketching what he sees. His illustrations are in the book, though it’s not always clear what the pictures are of. This is a sad tale of Japanese brutality and total American military abandonment of its own soldiers in their hour of need. How anyone survived the march is beyond belief. Eventually of course, Douglas McArthur (“I shall return”) does return and the Americans capture the peninsula. Interestingly, the Japanese side is told thorugh the eyes of commander Homma, who acts unaware of the rtagedy that unfolded under his watch. It’s almost sad to see what happens to him and his family. A must read for WWII fans. Four stars.
