July 2008 eBulletin:
Nicole makes sure families who come to the hospital know that AA&MDSIF is there to help them and their children. She stocks the hospital with literature and posters about aplastic anemia, including AA&MDSIF’s children’s book, "Talking to a Child with Bone Marrow Disease." She is also networking with other moms in similar situations to provide support and encouragement.
Ian and Joshua are doing fine. They were selected to be the Grand Marshals at their town parade last month. During the parade, information about aplastic anemia was distributed and it was announced to the crowd that Ian was the bone marrow donor for Joshua. You can watch the video. Information from the National Marrow Donor Program was shared, as were details about the next donor drive.
Raising awareness about bone marrow failure disease is a significant way to help families facing aplastic anemia, MDS and PNH. More people need to know the basics; once families and friends learn about the disease, they are ready to spread the word through local activities and fundraising events!
Please visit our website’s Get Involved section for information on how YOU can make a difference. Also, take a special look at our Promote Awareness and Advocacy section.
Nicole made a difference, and so can you! Here are a few simple ways to get started:
Create a few talking points for yourself, and practice saying them out loud. Everything you need to know to get started is on the home page of our website.
Edit our template for a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, and send it along. Add your story, or the story of someone you know facing a bone marrow failure disease.
Request copies and hand deliver the "Bone Marrow Disease Explained" brochure to all your local hematology/oncology offices.
Order the AA&MDSIF’s Awareness Poster and ask your local hospital to display it and and our brochures so people with bone marrow failure diseases can access our free patient education and support services.
Get the contact information for your local hematologist(s) or treatment hospital(s) and add them to our mailing list so that we can keep them current on the latest information for their patients.
Want to get more involved? Let us know that you want to help with local fundraising, advocacy efforts and more. Thank you for all that you do – it does make a difference!
For posters or display brochures please email Julie Bast at bast@aamds.org
