Well-Come!

Well-Come to Agent for Change, a blog created by Marly Silverman, to serve as a catalyst for change that is much needed on the issues affecting millions of individuals stricken with neuroendocrineimmune disorders worldwide. Through this blog I want to share ideas, exchange, communicate and find solutions for everyday living. The goal is to pursue quality of life that will make a difference in the lives of individuals with neuroendocrineimmune disorders (NEIDs).

Monday, March 8, 2010

'News from P.A.N.D.O.R.A. - March 2010'

Bloggers,
Here is P.A.N.D.O.R.A.'s latest newsletter. It includes the link to the NEI Center website. Share it with others

'News from P.A.N.D.O.R.A. - March 2010'

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

'Ryan Baldwin case is an ominous wake-up call'

Due to a longer unexpected relapse (is there any other kind when you have CFS?) I haven't been blogging much. P.A.N.D.O.R.A.'s facebook page and dealing with some other family health issues have taken care of my time and stamina. Although advocacy is a hobby for me, sometimes one has to walk way to recharge one's batteries. The statement you are about to read is truly important not only to parents with children with CFS-ME, but to parents with the neuroendocrineimmune disorders (NEIDs) P.A.N.D.O.R.A. also embraces:
Fibromyalgia, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Chronic or Persistent Lyme Disease.

The Pediatrics & Family Conference is to be held in the Asheville area. Asheville as you will read by clicking on the link below is a gorgeous mountainous area - the Blue Ridge Mountains - and famous for their celebrity homes and art. But Asheville is also the the back drop for what I qualify as "an institutional ingrained uneducated medical view (by physicians in North Carolina) and in other metropolitan areas of the country in regards to CFS-ME and other related chronic illnesses.

Our goal with this conference, is to highlight the continuing inadequacies (despite) years of the CDC medical provider education complemented by the public educational campaign with the CFIDS Association. Despite the hardwork from the CAA, we, patients with CFS-ME are still dealing with the fact that there are still only a dozen of CFS specialists in a few states treating CFS-ME patients, who are reaching retirement age, and the fact that the number of primary physicians in the 50 states only have a mediocre understanding of CFS potential treatments.

For the past two years when making my personal presentation to the CFS Advisory Committee board I brought the fact that if there are no American physicians willing to learn, to educate themselves about the potential treatments for CFS-ME (as well as the other NEIDs) that P.A.N.D.O.R.A. embraces. And, since this has not changed and it does not seem that it will change despite of all the advocacy that organizations have created, then we must import foreign physicians from other countries to do the work that their American counterparts are not doing or willing to do.(We will have to do that anyway, when health care reform comes to place and I hope soon.) At P.A.N.D.O.R.A. we have taken this to heart. We assisted Dr. Lina Garcia in getting her working visa to the U.S. Dr. Garcia is now going through the medical board licensing rigorous process so she can start a residency program and then open her practice for CFS-ME, FM and GWS private practice if she does not go into scientific research for neuroendocrineimmune disorders. For about 3 years now she has been under the supervision of Dr. Nancy Klimas at the University of Miami, CFS clinic in downtown Miami. By the time she will be done with this training she will be able to apply it to her residence training rotation and teach other physicians in the process too.

For now I ask you to read P.A.N.D.O.R.A.'s statement and get involved in any way you can in acting as an advocate. One opportunity will be to join our Advocate Extraordinaire program. E-mail me thorugh our contact page on our site, and I will add your name to the growing list of Advocate Extraordinaire who are getting ready to make a difference.

'Ryan Baldwin case is an ominous wake-up call'

Monday, January 18, 2010

Word of Thanks!

In the past year, P.A.N.D.O.R.A.'s Facebook page and our Twibe on Tweeter have been doing well because we have wonderful administrators helping us to stay in touch with members of our community.

I want to acknowledge a few from the U.S. today: Susan Cue-Sugman, Jill Serotta (who is taking a break for now) and Mary Ann Parker. These amazing ladies have spent hours posting relevant materials and responding to question that often pop up on our social sites.

I am grateful for their commitment and support of P.A.N.D.O.R.A. They are indeed Advocates Extraordinaire!

P.S.: Please note that in order to see the links for Sus and Jill you must log in to Facebook or sign up for it.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Make a Difference Monday Video by Mrchicity3

This was sent to me by a subscriber and friend of PANDORANET, our youtube.com page. The person along with her family who did the video and cooked the delicious soup are from South Florida. The Broward County homeless agency listed here is coincidentally one of the agencies many of our members have supported in the past with gifts of food for their pantry. Random Acts of Kindness and amazing acts of beauty. Thought this could lift you up.
Marly Silverman
Founder, P.A.N.D.O.R.A.
www.pandoranet.info

'Click the Share button to create links to this email on popular social networking and bookmarking size like Facebook, Twitter, and Digg.'

Here is PANDORA's latest newsletter. Share it with your friends on your Facebook page. If you are a blogger post the link in your blog too.

'Click the Share button to create links to this email on popular social networking and bookmarking size like Facebook, Twitter, and Digg.'

1Voice, 1Community, 1 Cause(TM)

Marly Silverman

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

2010 - The Beginning of the Quality of Life Decade for NEI Patients

Friends, 

The writings below now revised for you,is one that I sent today after learning of the passing of a fellow brother within our community. The e-mail was sent to the the leaders of the many organizations that embrace CFS or other neuroendocrineimmune disorders or illnesses, some politicians, and to some members of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Back in 2003 and later on 2004 on a conversation with several individuals I used the term "failure to thrive" which shocked some. I stated that our overall community (including physicians and researchers too) were in an environment that was not conducive to growth in the angles that are necessary for our community to thrive. For patients is the quality of life issue that are overbearing. For physicians is the lack of knowledge and science that can guide them to treat their NEI patients. For researchers is the lack of will from the government and other potential interested parties that results in dismay funding for CFS and other NEIDS. It is a chain reaction that creates such human pain and despair of great proportion.  

It was not until the sad news of the death of a fellow brother in illness, that I became aware of a blog titled "Failure to Thrive". Powerful words aren't they? 

http://toadlily-gamer.blogspot.com/2010/01/weve-lost-jack.html

I am deeply concerned that Jack's writings (of blessed memory) shared with us.. that he was not a "young one". He had lived a great life and yet because of his current circumstances, his spirit became broken and worse yet, his body lost the connection with his soul resulting in the loss of the will to live.  

Therefore I dare to ask the question: isn't  then CFS a mind,body, soul illness like any other severe and debilitating chronic illness that robs people of their quality of life and dignity?  Isn't CFS an illness that robs individuals of their humanity? As members of our community of suffering we need to be open for this discussion and to pursue a healthy debate that although CFS is not a psychiatric or mental health illness, it can certainly place individuals in this fragile realm, resulting in a forsaken reality that propels individuals to commit suicide. 

How many more losses will this community of suffering have to bear before we unite as 1 Voice, 1 Community, 1 Cause ? 

With some heavy heart, at least I see glimpses of potential hope. The WPI efforts with great potential being realized now. The NIH trying to replicate the XMRV virus using the same protocol, ME-CFS community.com, efforts underway in Europe to get an advocacy movement that is strong; the IACFS-ME conference in Canada, the CAA making research a priority, the NJ CFS Association, the Wisconsin CFS Association, the Vermont CFIDS Association ongoing medical student efforts, Phoenix Rising, Pro-Health, Facebook groups who are creating such an awareness to our cause that is awesome! And obviously our own efforts for the establishment of the NEI Center in New Jersey and in other satellite locations. 

But the bottom line, and there is always one, is found in 3 simple words: QUALITY OF LIFE - This decade starting in 2010, it should be the year for all of our organizationsto concentrate on this theme. From this day forward for the next 10 years, it should be the QUALITY OF LIFE DECADE FOR THE NEI COMMUNITY. It should be the decade to bring, enhance and create QUALITY OF LIFE for the individuals we all claim to represent. We must make this our main priority and you too the patient needs to be part of this monumental effort in whatever way you can.  

I wish you all a Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year! 

Marly Silverman
In mourning for Jack DeLuca

P.S.:

Debbie Anderson sent me the address to where you can send your sympathy cards to:
Dennis Sabatino
1510 Sullivan Trail # B
Easton, PA 18040