13th February, 2010
Lets' get by the sea!! You are invited to a morning tea at The Grand, Glenelg starting at 9.45am. Come and join us!
RSVP Loretta Ph: 08 8293 4566 or email sa here
Pituitary by the Sea
The Foundation's annual pituitary awareness seminar in SA on 23rd August was a great success with a good turnout of pituitary patients, family members and friends. Thank you to the everyone who helped to put this program together for the Foundation.
The content of the presentations was both clear and concise and covered a wide range of topics relating to pituitary disorders. These included an overview of paediatric and adult hormone replacement, medications and their administration techniques; psychological factors affecting the child; intimacy and sexual health among adults; nutrition and diet for the family and finally a session targeted at fertility - a journey to parenthood.
We truly appreciate the effort that goes into preparing these presentations as well as the precious weekend hours our speakers devote to attending the seminar. Our thanks for this seminar go to the following speakers:
- Jenny Nairn, Paediatric Endocrine Nurse, who is wonderful support to the Foundation;
- Klaus Sommer, Clinical Nurse Consultant - Klaus flew over from Sydney especially to present;
- Susie Burrell, Dietician/Nutritionist. Susie was also a guest from NSW;
- Loula Tstsis, Psycologist - Loula is a member and medical advisor to the Foundation;
- Brett McCann, Sex & Intimacy Counselor - Brett is a long standing member of the Foundation and flew in from NSW;
- Professor Robert Norman, Fertility Expert. Robert kindly stayed post seminar to personally enter into discussions with interested attendees.
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Susie Burrell, Dietician/Nutritionist, Jenny Nairn, Paediatric Endocrine Nurse, Royal Adelaide Children’s Hospital, Klaus Sommer, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Concord Hospital, Sydney
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Brett McCann, CEO Impotence Australia with Professor Robert Norman, The Robinson Institute, Adelaide |
Loretta Schar with Loula Tstits, Psychologist
The seminar was recorded so that members who were not able to attend in person might be able to purchase a DVD of the day. Please keep an eye on the website for further news of this merchandise.
Our SA State Coordinator, Loretta, was recovering from a severe bout of laryngitis, but her passion and need to welcome her membership and interested visitors was apparent in her determination to soldier on at the mike!
A great crowd met for afternoon tea
SA branch had an informal get-together in March in the beautiful botanical gardens. It was not only wonderful to meet up again with members and old friends but to also see the extended family and new faces who joined with us. We were able to enjoy afternoon tea outside before taking shelter together from a most welcome shower of rain.
A Message from Loretta
I myself have been diagnosed with a fairly serious condition, so my mind has really not been focused on the APF lately. The good news is that my condition has been caught in its early stages and I am about to embark on treatment shortly.
However, all that aside, there have been times when I have had to struggle with whether the APF support group was providing essential or even sufficient assistance. Now that have already attended a support group as a patient myself, I am right away more than ever convinced that support groups are a necessary part of the process. A support group should never become a crutch to the patient, but the friendships and exchanges of information that are discussed in an atmosphere of solidarity are invaluable for both the patient and their family. So on that point – we push strongly forward.