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[SerenaWelsh]

Dr. Fett has so kindly put together an informational sheet on PPCM, that would help doctors perhaps recognize symptoms of PPCM in their patients.

The intent is to have you down load this file and send it to your local area doctors. You can reach this form at http://www.amothersheart.org and click on "Download."

Thanks!

[dawn]

Excellent work! I've printed out several copies, and will mail them along with my PSA for WomenHeart.

Great idea, Serena, and thanks to Dr. Fett for always finding time to support us.

[SarahsMom]

Serena,

This is great!!! I'm sending it to all the OB's in the Atlanta area! We should also get these pamphlets to the labor / delivery floors of hospitals. It was the nurse that was assigned to my room that realized there was a "serious" problem with me and pushed for an internist to come in and look at me...she DEMANDED that they give me a chest x-ray. I think they are the first line of defense....I think I may have seen my ob/gyn once after delivery and he was much too busy to listen to me.

Kari

[SerenaWelsh]

Pamphlets are on the way!

A CPA friend of mine is going to help with the incorporating of amothersheart.org. Once we are fully operational as a non-profit, we will be eligible for some grant monies.
The plan, as it stands, is to create some eye-catching glossy pamphlets to distribute to doctor's offices and hospitals, to be displayed in waiting areas for women's health services (L&D floors, etc...).
Glossy costs $$$, and so does postage on something of such large scale.

There is no timeline for this yet, but if you are a graphic artist (professional, or by hobby) and want to donate your time and services for creating such a pamphlet, contact me! When the time comes, I suspect we will again be calling upon Dr. Fett to approve the accuracy of the information we're distributing.
I don't think we want to tell doctors how to do their job. The science already exists to diagnose and treat us. We just want them to recognize PPCM so that they apply these in a timely manner. The squeaky wheel gets the grease - so start squeaking!

[catintx]

Hi! I have told Serena and a few others I've always wanted to do some sort of board, foundation or something. My business is about to expand and I'm going to take advantage of all the advertising I do by highlighting PPCM. I will be licensing out our name www.inflatableinsanity.com and do a huge amount of advertising to seek clients. Focus on Texas this August or September (was hoping April or May, but want to relax this summer). Then, go nationwide a few months later, a few markets at a time. Going to mention that our company proudly promotes Bounce 4 Babies Day May 1st. (I was diagnosed May 1, 1994.) Bounce for the babies... they need a healthy mother. (Something like that. LOL) I'm creating a Bounce4Babies campaign to raise money for educational pamphlets as well. Our licensed facilities can support B4B by either donating a percentage of profits for the day or holding an event to raise money. (Organizing pamphlets and other information like this has been a dream of mine for many years. I'm SO glad I "found" a "corporate" backer. LOL)

I know we can compliment each other's efforts. I don't want to step on any toes. I won't be fully funded until the end of the year or beginning of next. But, it should be BIG BUCKS!!!

Update... I just registered my site! www.bounce4babies.com It's not up yet, but should be shortly!!! :)

[SerenaWelsh]

You're not going to step on anybodies toes, honey. That's not how this thing works. The more people spreading the word, the faster it gets spread.

Let us know how you progress. There are plenty of good ideas to go around!

[catintx]

Hi! Thanks! What I am curious about is this. How can we organize the download campaign without repeating/duplicating/redundancy? How do we know what doctors have been sent the information? Be such a waste if the doctors received more than one mailing. Is there any way of assigning people a small region and then once more and more join, they get an area too? Then, you get another area of the region once you've completed it, if necessary? This would work wonderfuls for your nonprofit too. Have heads of each area focus on the hospitals and doctors there. Just a thought.

[deidre61]

that is so exciting I'm getting some stamps tomorrow and will be sending them out. I am going to find a way to get them to the cardiac nurses on the floor in the hospital I was in so at least maybe they will know what ppcm is. None of them new what was wrong with me and that's why I almost lost my life in the hospital!

[SerenaWelsh]

Thanks, Cat.

I think right now, if we just send the letters out to the doctors in our area, that's a huge first step. For the most part, we seem to be a pretty geographically diverse group (except for one peculiar little cluster in the NJ/Philly area :D ).
As more information is produced, and the campaign moves on, then we can look for volunteers to be in charge of specific regions.

Incidentally, my visit to the ER the other night was a great opportunity. As the nurse (who hadn't actually been MY nurse) came in to "un hook me" so I could go home, she asked what was wrong with my heart. Rather than tell her the whle sordid story, "I thought I had PPCM, but it's actually DCM, blah blah," I said:
"I have peripartum cardiomyopathy." She looked at me strangely. "Heart Failure caused by pregnancy." Her mouth fell open. "Ever hear of it?"
Nurse: "My goodness no. I didn't know that could happen."
Me: "Well it does, you should look it up online sometime."

Ok, so I didn't make the MOST of my opportunity to spread the word, but I was sick and grouchy and dehydrated, and in a pretty foul mood from listening to the gal in the next bay who'd been brought in for attempted suicide boohooing about her boyfriend. But judging from her reaction, I at least told her something she didn't know. Hmph.

[whittja]

Serena
I am new and am and do not know much about computers, I can not find how to download this and am very interested in it. Please email me and let me know
maddox420@icehouse.net





Dr. Fett has so kindly put together an informational sheet on PPCM, that would help doctors perhaps recognize symptoms of PPCM in their patients.

The intent is to have you down load this file and send it to your local area doctors. You can reach this form at http://www.amothersheart.org and click on "Download."

Thanks!

[Mindyt]

I can't figure out how to download it. What am I missing? I can't find where to click "download". Is is on the home page?
Mindy

[marissar]

Just a thought but I was thinking even if some of us do send to the same ddrs I won't hurt. Maybe they will be more out to pay attention to more than one person. They may toss the first and then wonder why another one is coming and maybe realize there is more out there than they ever thought. I just found out on Thursday there is a lady that was dx 2 1/2 yrs ago and she is right here in my town. I haven't gotten to speak to her yet but she must be pretty sick. Word is she just got her disability approved. Funny thing is my mortgage broker is her broker that is how I heard about her. Now I have to wait and see if she will talk to me by way of our broker.

[christyh]

I cant find the spot to download from either. Help?:)

[SerenaWelsh]

The website has changed a few times since the original message was posted....

you can find it here now... http://amothersheart.org/lettercamp.htm