TM Support Group of Virginia
Pamela New

Our group has been very busy this past year. We held our very first state-wide meeting and had an attorney who specializes in social security disability law as our guest speaker along with a retired social security intake specialist who now works with her practice. It was nice to hear from the attorney side of the disability process that we are, indeed, doing things the “right” way!

I have been working really hard to get a teen chat room working for the teens in my group! They seem very interested in the idea and we have had a couple of meetings about the concept. I have spoken with their moms, set up chat room etiquette, and informed the parents that the room is open to anyone with internet access. Meeting with the kids has been totally awesome. They are the most amazing kids. There are six “kids” in my group; four of them are in wheelchairs. Edward is now 21 years old, having contracted TM at the age of seven. He is mobile, works, attended college and has a smile that will melt your heart! He is at a point where I want to be one day. He made a comment at our first meeting that I remember still: “I just like to forget about TM. It doesn’t control me anymore.” I want to be like Edward! He is on board to help me with the younger kids with the chat room. He is an awesome role model. He still has some residual TM problems, but you would never know if not for the splint on his left hand. Courtney is my other role model for my kids. She is now 23 and has been in a wheelchair since she was 16. She drives her customized van, attends college, and is totally awesome, as well. Between these two young adults, I know that the other kids in my group will come to realize that having TM is not the end of the world. Brandon, age 15, Emmanuel, age 14, and Casey, age 13 are all in wheelchairs. Mia is 16 and has some mild mobility difficulty with her left leg, some residual from her initial TM attack.

The chat room is there for the teens; adults will not be there participating or “watching.” This is important. If this works well, others, internationally, will become involved. TM is not just in Virginia, not just in the US, but exists around the world. We are working through Geoff, and the UK support group, to get teens from the UK involved. This is an important project and would like to get as many teens involved as possible. It will work, because it is important to all of them! Ron Hutton (VA), Stephen Miller (OH), Paula (WA), and Debbie (CA) have all been instrumental in this project.

Fundraising! My children are still working on a bowling fundraiser. The name of the fundraiser is Virginia Bowls Over TM. I will keep you posted on the details. The plan is to coordinate it state-wide so that all of the children and grandchildren of support group members can participate in the fundraiser in bowling alleys around the state on the same day. I cannot take credit for the name of the fundraiser. It goes to Greg Seiler who also came up with the fundraiser premise. It will be fun and will raise money. This I promise!

If you have any ideas for other fundraisers, please let me know!