Virginia

TM Awareness Day
           
Mark Warner was the governor of The Commonwealth of Virginia when I first began my quest to write a resolution for a TM Awareness Day.  I began my research into establishing a Virginia awareness day with a conversation with Pam Schecter, the TM Support Group Leader in New York.  Pam was able to get a New York resolution passed through their state legislature.  My work began with the New York awareness resolution.  Pam and I had numerous conversations and she offered me excellent guidance through the process. 

After I started working on the resolution, I had two brain surgeries, Tim Kaine became the new Governor of Virginia, and Ohio and Australia passed TM awareness days.  Finally, after many drafts and many years of hard work, Governor Tim Kaine signed the Virginia TM Awareness Day resolution.  TM Awareness day was established as June 6, 2006 to coincide with the date previously set in New York, Ohio and Australia.  We must now move forward and demand the recognition we have worked so hard for through education and fundraising.

Three Virginia Support Group Chapters

The Virginia TM Support Group now has three chapters!  We are very excited to be able to provide more local contacts for people across the state.   We have a SW Virginia Chapter, which covers west of Charlottesville.  Drema O’Dell leads this group.  We also have an Eastern Shore Chapter, which is led by Agnes Killough.  Agnes does a wonderful job working with Dr. Paschal, a physician from a small rural community on the Eastern Shore.  Dr. Paschal asked Agnes to start this support group!  Agnes has been extremely helpful and a very important part of my life as I recover from my brain surgery and stroke.  She has stepped in and taken responsibility for the Virginia TM Support Group when I needed time to focus on my own rehab and recovery.  Agnes has offered me a great deal of support through my difficult times; thank you my dear friend.  I don’t think I tell you enough how important you are to me and to all of us.

Virginia Bowls Over TM!

The Virginia TM Support Group is planning an awareness and fundraising event.  We hope that we can get many of our members involved in this important activity.  You will hear more about it at upcoming meetings. 

And if you live in Virginia and have not yet participated in our support group activities, please get in touch with Drema, Agnes or myself.  We would love to hear from you.

Please keep all of your contact information current!  If you change your address, phone number of email address, please send those changes to Sandy Siegel and please also send the changes to me at pnew@myelitis.org!  G-d Bless