2009 Conference Highlights
Pre-Conference 101 Sessions: 
These introductory sessions debuted at our 2008 conference and were a big hit. They are designed for those who are newly diagnosed, want a refresher or the basics or are simply interested in learning more. Aplastic Anemia 101, PNH 101 and MDS 101 will take place on Friday afternoon, July 10.
More Than 15 Disease - and Topic - Specific Breakout Sessions:
Sessions will cover a variety of medical and living well issues including:
- Blood transfusions
- Stem cell transplantation
- Iron overload
- Growth factors
- Insurance coverage
- Beating fatigue
- Improving communication
- Intimacy and sexuality concerns
- Complimentary and alternative therapies
- And more...
Support Workshops
A favorite year after year, these professionally-facilitated support sessions bring together patients and family members with similar issues and concerns. They provide plenty of time for talking, sharing, comparing and hearing how others are coping with the challenges of living with a bone marrow failure disease.
For Kids Only – A Children's Workshop:
This lively and interactive workshop is designed specifically for children and teens who have a bone marrow failure disease (BMFD), their siblings, and children of parents facing BMFD. It will include a mix of fun, facts, art and even some medical science. The kids who participated last year learned a lot and made new friends their own age to stay connected with throughout the year. The program is perfect for children ages 6 to 14.
Online Learning Lab:
The Online Learning Lab, a new addition for 2009, will offer a series of short informational sessions on using the Internet to find information and connect with other patients and their families. Topics may include:
- Using the AA&MDSIF Online Learning Center
- MarrowForums: An Overview and Tutorial
- Surfing for Your Health: Using the Internet to find reliable health information
- And more...
Survivors Celebration - NEW:
Today, so many people are living with and living beyond bone marrow failure diseases – especially compared to the low survival rates of a quarter-century ago when AA&MDSIF was founded. So we think it's time to celebrate the bravery of being a survivor.
- Whether your treatment is a part of your past or you are living with a BMFD now...
- Whether you consider your BMFD yesterday's news or you await news of better treatments and a cure...
- Whether you survived the disease itself or you survived caring for your loved one as they went through it...
- You are a Survivor, and AA&MDSIF wants you to celebrate your survival with us!
Join us for our first Survivors Celebration, as we continue the celebration of AA&MDSIF's silver anniversary. 25 years in the making, this hopeful celebration of life will bring together patients with aplastic anemia, MDS and PNH who have survived their disease and survived treatment and who are creating a "new normal" for their lives beyond BMFD. Bringing survivors together will also give hope and inspiration to the newly-diagnosed. We encourage all survivors, as well as those touched by a bone marrow failure disease to join us.
We encourage all to arrive in Indianapolis Saturday afternoon and participate in Survivors Celebration events on Saturday evening and Sunday, which culminates with a special luncheon. Watch this space for news about the celebration plans.
This celebration is done as a testament to the bravery of our survivors and in memory loved ones lost to these life-threatening diseases.
