CIRCLE OF HOPE LYMPHEDEMA FOUNDATION
Presents a Video of

A National Lymphedema Conference

"LYMPHEDEMA: The Flight Of Hope" Conference

A Great Success!

On March 29, 2003 Connecticut's First National Lymphedema Conference was held in Waterbury, CT. The "Circle of Hope Lymphedema Foundation" presented this conference with the help of it's affiliate sponsor the Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center and other sponsors and donors.

About 200 medical professionals, patients and exhibitors filled the Marriott Hotel. Each person who entered was filled with anticipation of what outcome this special day would have. They were inundated by Silver Butterflies with Turquoise Ribbons which was created by Jeanne Tassis, and is now the National Symbol for the Lymphedema Movement. There were presenters, exhibitors and attendees from all over the United States, each there to share their knowledge, research, hopes and dreams for the condition known as lymphedema!

The COHLF was honored to have Mayor Bob Chatfield present on behalf of Governor John Rowland a Proclamation declaring March as Lymphedema Awareness Month in the State of Connecticut. Connecticut is the First State to make this Proclamation! They were also honored to have a letter from Representative Rosa DeLauro read to all the attendees about her support for the lymphedema movement.

The support from the doctors and other medical professionals attending the conference is an outstanding achievement for all who suffer from this debilitating condition of lymphedema! Each person who attended left the conference with new thoughts, ideas and hopes which will catapult the lymphedema movement further along its path and out into the light of the world for everyone to see and act upon.

As a Butterfly struggles out of it's dark cocoon to fly into the beautiful light of the world, lymphedema patients are now doing the same thing. We are happy to say the medical professionals are joining our team and we will win the battle!

Mayor Bob Chatfield presenting March 2003 Lymphedema Awareness Month Proclamation to Jeanne Tassis, President of Circle of Hope Lymphedema Foundation.

Presenters at the First National Lymphedema Conference held in Connecticut.

FRONT ROW, left to right: Wendy Chaite, LRF;Sherry Lebed Davis, Focus on Healing; Jo Ann Rovig, CLT-LANA. SECOND ROW, left to right: Gail Hendsey, PT,CLT-LANA; Jane Reinsch, MA, PT, CLT-LANA; Bonnie Lasinski, MA, PT, CI, CLT-LANA; Joseph Ravalese, III, M.D., Robert Weiss, Advocate; Saskia Thiadens,Executive Director NLN, Ellen Fischbein, MD (Missing from photo: David Knight, M.D., Andrea Cheville, M.D., Nocole Gergich, MPT, CLT-LANA.)

The Conference was held on Saturday, March 29, 2003
at the Courtyard by Marriott, 63 Grand Street, Waterbury, CT. from 7:45 AM to 5:00 PM

Co-Sponsors

The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center
Klose Norton School Of Lymphedema Therapy
Y-Me of Connecticut Breast Cancer Organization
Connal Physical Therapy Group, LLC
BSN-Jobst, Inc

Speakers

• Wendy Chaite, Esq., Lymphatic Research Foundation, President
  Lymphatic Research

• Andrea Cheville, MD, Director of Cancer Rehabilitation, University of Penn., Gynecological Malignancies and Lymphedema

• Sherry Lebed Davis

• Breakout Session

• Exercise For Lymphedema Patients-"Focus on Healing Through Movement and Dance"

• Ellen R. Fischbein, MD, Chair, Department of Behavioral Health Care Services, St. Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, CT, Lymphedema - Living With It and Beyond.

• Guenter Klose, MLD/CDT Clinical Instructor, CLT/LANA, Pediatric Lymphedema
  (Guenter Klose was unable to attend the conference so Nicole Gergich, MPT, CLT-LANA from the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania spoke on Pediatric Lymphedema.)

• David Knight, MD, Surgical Associates of Waterbury. P.C., A Surgeon Speaks About Lymphedema and Awareness

• Bonnie Lasinski, MA, PT, CI, CLT/LANA, Secondary Lymphedema: Non-Cancer Related

• Joseph Ravalese, III, MD, Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center
  LE: A Radiation Oncologist's Perspective

• Jane T. Reinsch, MA,PT,CDT/LANA & Gail M. Hendsey, PT, CDT/LANA, What is Lymphedema?, How is it treated?, What is Cellulitis?

• Breakout Session: Demonstration of MLD and Bandaging, Ask the Professor, Gail M. Hendsey, PT, CDT/LANA

• Breakout Session: Winning the War on Lymphedema - Choices and Self Care, Jo Ann Rovig, CLT/LANA

• Saskia R. J. Thiadens, RN, Executive Director NLN, Impact of a National Advocacy Organization

• Robert Weiss, BME, MSE, LE Advocate, Suggestions for Creating a Lymphedema Treatment Center of Excellence