Greater Phoenix Democratics have Passion

I attended the Maricopa County Democratic Party biannual convention and BBQ today at the Union Hall 469. So much passion and excitement for the party was displayed! The room was completely packed with about 150 people which means a very good tipping point for us!

Air America Radio was part of the panel discussion along with Rebekah Friend (AZ AFL-CIO President), Chad Campbell, and other representatives. Chair Judy Kennedy closed the meeting with applause and support the cause.

After the meeting folks gathered to break bread and discuss strategy for keeping AZ blue. The delicious BBQ was supplied by the BBQ Crew .

Among the attendees: Congressman Larry King, Michael Levy, Fred and Steve McChesney of the M&M Show, Andrew Long, who designed the fresh new look to the site.

National Medical Research Foundation

Recently, I was asked to the advisory board of the National Medical Research Foundation. I am very proud to accept the appointment and lend my knowledge and help to this cause.

Founded by Joan and Edward Reiter, NMR Foundation is focued on finding the cause and cure for both Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis, which are vasculitis diseases. Vasculitis is inflammation of the walls of blood vessels.

Joyce Spataro, my mother, suffers from Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu Arteritis (TA) . She has considerable amount of pain, she may loose her hearing and her eye sight. There is very little research, but 1 in a 143 people and more women than men, suffer from PMR, GCA or TA symptoms sometimes mask as other diseases such as arthritis. Early diagnosis is very important, review each symptom, and listen your body! Treatments relay on steroids, which have complications from long term usage, some cases involve surgury.

National Medical Research Foundation is a not for profit organization with a focused misson of finding causes and cures. NMR is committed to disseminating the latest medical informtion to the public; assists in forming support groups; provides speakers to groups and organations; raises funds to support research for diagnostic testing, treatment and cure of Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis.

If you have been diagnosed with PMR or GCA or know of someone please contact us:

National Medical Research Foundation 1900 W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 15215 Chandler, AZ 85224
Phone: 480-883-1408 Fax: 480-802-3989
E-mail: NMRF@NMRFoundation.com

Symptoms:
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)
Takayasu Arteritis (TA)

Helpful information from other resources:
Living with Vasculitis by Christine Ganley and Claire Reay
National Institutes of Health
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Mayo Clinic- Giant Cell
Mayo Clinic - Arteritis search
John Hopkins - What is Vasculitis?

Keywords: Polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis, takayasu arteritis, vasculitis, temporal arteritis, vascular disease, National Medical Research Foundation, Joan Reiter