First of its kind PANDAS Parents Meeting to be held in Indianapolis, IN on November 5, 2011
Three parents have organized a first of its kind meeting for other parents with children affected by PANDAS: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococci.
Online PR News – First of its kind PANDAS Parents Meeting to be held in Indianapolis, IN on November 5, 2011.
Indianapolis, IN — November 5, 2011 — Imagine if your happy, carefree child suddenly turned into an anxiety-ridden, obsessive, and rage-filled stranger scared to let you out of his sight, and you don’t know why it happened. You hope it is just a phase, but it isn’t, and doctors are little help. You search for an explanation and find the answer: PANDAS.
On November 5th, a group of parents from all over the United States who have experienced this terrible nightmare will gather in Indianapolis for the first ever PANDAS Parents Meeting. The meeting capacity of 50 filled, as RSVPs came from various states. For many mothers and fathers attending the meeting, it will be the first time they have met another parent dealing with the struggles of PANDAS.
PANDAS stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococci. Symptoms of this condition can appear after a strep infection and include obsessions, compulsions, tics, anxiety, rages, ADHD, and more. PANDAS is complex and can be isolating for families. It is a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs due to symptoms and behaviors the children exhibit. Additionally, cases are scattered geographically, and many doctors are unfamiliar with the condition. Networking on the Internet is a real comfort to PANDAS parents, but this in-person event will give inspiration and hope many still need to continue the journey of recovery. It will allow parents to share a meal, form personal relationships, forge stronger support systems, and learn tips to help aid in the care of their PANDAS child .
The meeting is being planned by three parents of PANDAS children: Vickie Blavat of Cincinnati, OH; Sarah Jane Alleman of Lexington, KY; and Tamara Thweatt of Indianapolis, IN. These mothers have never met but formed a strong bond online while working for the recovery of their kids. The planners rely on email and Facebook for most communications. Funds for the event were raised online, with donations from families and friends, and by securing a sponsor, Organic 3—maker of GUTPro™ Custom Probiotics. Promotion for the meeting has been done with online forums, social networking, and a blog created for the event.
All speakers at the event are parents who will share different aspects of their personal stories in dealing with PANDAS. One of the presenters will be Elizabeth Eberhardt, author of Out of the Fog, Into the Light, which chronicles her family’s ordeal when her son developed PANDAS as a teenager. The e-book is available on Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
To view the rest of the online press release, click here.
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