Southwest Virginia PH Support Group Christmas Banquet
Our Christmas banquet at the Hotel Roanoke was sumptuous. When Jonette and I started the group in March 2006, we had eight people present. At our banquet, on December 1, 2007 there were 44 in attendance, many of them new!
For those that don't know, the Hotel Roanoke is as close to a five-star restaurant as can be found in this area. Of the new PHers, one couple made a three-hour drive, one couple came whose 12-year-old daughter has PH, and one couple brought their three month-old son who has PH.
Our speaker was Bev Ryan, ACNP, from the University of Virginia. She gave an informative talk, which was well received, on the physiology of PH. Martha Wilson, representing Actelion, sponsored our banquet. We had other health professionals there including two nurses and two cardio-pulmonary therapists. And of course, families and friends of PH patients.
I think most people felt like I did at the end of the banquet--uplifted! It was so worth all the hair pulling we had done in the weeks before to organize and bring the banquet to reality. Our traditional 50-50 drawing netted $44 for PHA.
Liz Amos and Susan Temple
Bev Ryan, ACNP, from UVA, our speaker
Susan Temple and Jonette Robinson, co-leaders
Martha Wilson
