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A Dedication to Resourceful Living: A group approach to focus on what matters to the members of our community whose lives are impacted by chronic lung disease.

Breath Matters Virginia Lung Support Group

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PAST MEETING

Monday, August 14, 2017
Speaker: April Williams, Nutritionist
Topic: Living with Lung Disease and Heart Failure

FOUNDERS CELEBRATION!

Hello from Breath Matters!

This August 14, we're hosting a Founder's Day celebration at the Breath Matters monthly meeting.

Our focus will be mainly on the original founders Russell Glover and David Sanders, but we are also planning to applaud membership for their support in the development of this charitable legacy.

The meeting agenda will mostly resemble the typical monthly meeting, with a topical speaker and a sharing session. However, we also will have a bit of a look back at the history of the organization and a thank you to those folks who really were fundamental to getting Breath Matters started.

We'll end with some light refreshments and a casual mingle. We are committed to keeping it fun and light, Russell and David would have hated something morose and downbeat!

The details: Aug 14, 1:15-3pm

Johnston Willis Hospital (Stalker Auditorium).

We really hope to see you there and give you a hearty "thanks" for your support. We'd appreciate an RSVP, just to help our planning.


SPECIAL EVENT

LUNG FORCE EXPO - March 17, 2017

Richmond Marriott at Short Pump

To register :
Lung Force.org/Expo


Monday, April 10, 2017
Speaker: Christopher McKenney, PA-C
Title: Getting the most from your MD Appointment

Monday, May 8, 2017
Speaker: Dr. Susan Scharpf
Title:Transitioning Care from Hospital to Home


PAST EVENT DEC 12, 2016

ANNUAL HOLIDAY GET TOGETHER!

HOLIDAY 2016

1:15PM - 3:00 PM

PLEASE BRING A COVERED DISH

If you don't like to eat buffet style,
bring your own, but please join us.
If you don't want to eat, just stop by and say Hi!


CHIPPENHAM HOSPITAL - KRAUS AUDITORIUM

VALET PARKING PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE


PAST EVENT: SEP 27, 2016

DANNETTE SHORT

More information about this event at the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation web site


Action Changes ThingsPulmonary Fibrosis Study

SEE THE PAGE ON THIS HERE

The Participation Program for Pulmonary Fibrosis (P3F) are currently recruiting pulmonary fibrosis patients (fibrosis of any etiology, not just IPF) to sign up for a Contact Registry as well as for a study in which we will examine the effects of daytime supplemental oxygen on a number of outcomes.

For our supplemental oxygen study, we are looking to enroll patients currently using supplemental oxygen and those likely to need supplemental oxygen in the next year or so.

We are asking for your help only to spread the word about this study to all the members of your support group. All data collection will occur either online or via mailings.

Packets containing a more detailed explanation of the study along with recruitment materials (e.g., flyers, business cards) are being mailed to you and should reach you in a few days.

We appreciate your time and attention, and we hope that you can help us by letting the members of your pulmonary fibrosis support network know about these exciting opportunities.

If you would like more information about the P3F, please check us out at www.PFresearch.org and follow us on Twitter at @DoctorSwig or email our Principal Investigator, Dr. Swigris, directly at swigrisj@njc.org.

P P P P F Study

Important news on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

This note came into Breath Matters March 2014:

Russell, I have some news about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and I'm hoping that you could distribute it to your group at Breath Matters.

Intermune is holding a press conference today that will show positive results from the most recent pirfenidone study. This will likely make it the first FDA approved treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

They will take their information to the FDA later this year, and the medication may be available by the end of 2014. For those in the group with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, we are participating in an "open access and early availability" study that will help Intermune with additional safety and tolerability data.

More importantly, it will give patients with IPF access to pirfenidone before it becomes FDA available. There is no placebo arm, everyone will get the medication who qualifies.

If anyone is interested, the study coordinator is Amy Frayser (804-828-7966). Thanks, Dan Grinnan


PAST MEETING: JAN 12, 2015

Overview of Clinical Trials

The January 12, 2015 meeting with Annette Bennett was an informative session with plenty of questions and answers from the audience.

MORE ON THE JAN 2015 STUDY

Annette Bennett Richmond Virginia Talk Jan 2015 Breath Matters - Clinical Trials 3

Annette Bennett Richmond Virginia Talk Jan 2015 Breath Matters - Clinical Trials 4


PAST MEETING: FEB 9, 2015

Lung Cancer: Where do We go From Here?

Voelzke

Dr. Voelzke gave an extensive review of lung cancer at the February 2015 meeting. He discussed recent advances in treatment and possible future breakthroughs.

More on the FEB 2015 Meeting

PAST MEETING: APRIL 13, 2015

Adrian Aron

Professor Adrian Aron

Department of Physical Therapy, Radford University

"Sleep Apnea - The Unknown Danger Everyone Should Fear"

The April 13, 2015 meeting with Professor Adrian Aron was an examination of Sleep Apnea and the impact it has on COPD and a variety of other lung and health problems.

MORE ON THE APRIL 2015 MEETING


PAST MEETING: MAY 11, 2015

Speaker: Sherry Wilson

Operations Assistant

F.R.E.E.- Foundation, Richmond Chapter

Topic: Making a Difference

1:15 to 3:00 PM

Sherry WIlson - Richmond FREE ChapterSherry WIlson - Richmond FREE Chapter

Sherry Wilson, FREE Foundation

Mobility is important!

Sherry Wilson came to speak at the May 11 Breathmatters meeting. She spoke about the challenges of maintaining or reclaiming mobility after hospitalization or while battling debilitating ailments.

MORE ABOUT THE MAY 2015 MEETING


PAST MEETING: JUNE 8, 2015

Joan Shifflett - Breathmatters Meeting Richmond VA June 2015

Joan Shifflett spoke at the June Breathmatters meeting about After Care for Lung Disease Sufferers, and about the general problems of identifying quality care service for patients, senior citizens and their families.

MORE ABOUT THE JUNE 2015 MEETING

PAST MEETING: JULY 13, 2015

JANET PINSON

(Nurse Pract.) & Attendee,
Pulmonology Department, MCV Hospital, Richmond, VA

Janet Pinson speaking on acid reflux - July 2015

TOPIC: ACID REFLUX & its
Relationship With C.O.P.D. and Pulmonary Fibrosis

Janet Pinson spoke at the July 2015 meeting of Breathmatters about acid reflux and how it particularly effects lung disease sufferers.

MORE ABOUT THE JULY 2015 MEETING


PAST MEETING: AUG 10, 2015

Shawn FLoyd

SHAWN FLOYD

NP, Post Lungtransplant

TOPIC: Lung Transplantation for

End Stage Lung Diseases i.e.

Sarcoid, C.O.P.D., C F, LAM

Shawn Floyd spoke at the August 10, 2015 meeting of Breath Matters. Mr. Floyd began with a brief overview of the history of lung transplants which began with Dr. James Hardy performing the first human lung transplant operation in 1963 in Jackson, Mississippi.

MORE ABOUT THE AUG 2015 MEETING



PAST EVENT: MARCH 14, 2016

Speaker: Dan Bayliss

RN, MS, CES from
ACAC

Topic: Importance of Exercise

BAYLISS


PAST EVENT: FEB 8, 2016

Speaker: Erik Larsen
Clinical Education Manager Genentech
Topic: Safety and Efficacy of Pirfenidone for IPF

Erik Larsen


PAST EVENT: JAN 11, 2016

Speaker: Gwen Reed-Blankenship

Bon Secour
Topic: Grief counseling

Gwen Reed-Blankenship

Gwen Reed-Blankenship

Gwen Reed-Blankenship

Photos from the January 11, 2016 Meeting of Breathmatters in Richmond, Virginia. Gwen Reed-Blankenship spoke on the subject of Grief Counseling. The event was held at John Willis Hospital in Richmond Virginia. A video tape of the meeting will be posted online soon.

REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED

Gwen Reed

Gwen Reed, LCSW, AHPC-SW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, an Advanced Hospice and Palliative Care Social Worker and the Bereavement Coordinator at the Bon Secours Bereavement Center.

She received her Advanced Standing Masters in Social Work at V.C.U. in 1993 and her Bachelors of Social Work at Eastern Mennonite University in 1985. She started hospice work in Pennsylvania, when the field was in its infancy and has since counseled grieving families for over 25 years. Gwen supervises Masters level Interns and licensure candidates and does guest teaching for VCU social work classes.

Gwen finds it meaningful to guide others as they transform sorrow into new strengths, like the Phoenix rising from the ashes.


PAST EVENT: DEC 14, 2015

Annual Holiday Luncheon and Celebration!

Holiday Event 2015


This event sponsored by

Always Best Care

Always Best Care Senior Services
1 (855) 470-CARE(2273)


PAST EVENT: NOV 9, 2015

Dr. Max Weder, Medical Director VCU

Associate Professor of Medicine

Topic: Lung Transplants, Recipes for Success

Dr Max Weder spoke at the November meeting on the subject of lung transplants. Dr Weder described how candidates are selected and went into detail about what physical issues might assist in a lung disease sufferers selection, or, might disqualify them. The full video recording will be posted online soon.

Max Weber

Dr. Max Weder, Medical Director VCU Associate Professor of Medicine Topic: Lung Transplants, Recipes for Success

He is the attending physician for pulmonary hypertension. He is also the associate professor of medicine at the University of Virginia specializing in lung transplants at one of Virginia’s top hospitals. He comes to us from Humboldt University in Berlin Germany. He completed his postgraduate education at Tulane University and his fellowship at the University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill.

He Teaches, he does research, he has presented at conferences, He is published in books, magazines, and referenced in several medical Journals.

He is married to Uta Erdbruegger MD and they have three children, Jakob, Anton and Paul all were born on February 26, 2007 triplets!!! We are very fortunate to have him.

He is here today to talk about "Lung Transplant - Recipes for Success".


William Russell Glover - 1946 - 2015

Russell GLover - Breathmatters

Russell Glover was the original President and Facilitator at Breath Matters Support Group

Obituary Information


PAST EVENT: SEPT 14, 2015

Speaker: Dr. Steven Nathan, MD, FCCP, Medical Director, INOVA Lung Transplant Program

Dr Steven Nathan

Topic: The Relationship Between IPF,

New Meds, & Transplants


PAST EVENT: APRIL 11, 2016

Speaker: Darrel Bowe, CRT

Program Director for Med Inc. & COPD 360

Topic: Trilogy - The Treatment for
COPD Patients with Chronic Respiratory

REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED by

MED


DOOR PRIZES!

ALL BREATHMATTERS MEETINGS ARE FREE AND ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED.
ALL TALKS INCLUDE A
QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD.

Directions and Map

MAP and DIRECTIONS

Archive Pages

Additional Archived Material

Andrea B Hubbard Walk 2015

Judith Coward Obit - April 2014

Breath Matters Pins - numbered special edition

The Amazing Raise - Archive 2013

Hazel Caldwell - Obit Memorial Archive

2012 President's Letter

Misc Resources Links

David Sanders Obituary

Edward Hoffman Obituary

Hampton Rasnick Obituary

 

Pin and Optional Box

Amazing Raise


Breath Matters Pins

Virginia Easy Access

For seniors and adults with disabilities and the providers that support them

TRANSPORTATION FINANCIAL
HOUSING

Virginia Easy Access is the name of a website developed for seniors, adults with disabilities, their caregivers and the providers that support them. Virginia Easy Access is full of helpful information about services and supports that are available across the Commonwealth.

Website: Virginia Easy Access

Questions?

804.937.6855


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