Tracy is doing so very well!  She still tires easily, but her life is also now so busy with having returned to full-time teaching.  Her energy is zapped by the evening, and she knows the true meaning of TGIF!  But she is energized with the thoughts of her new teaching position for 2008-09! She was offered both positions she interviewed for  this week - a regular third grade class in a wonderful school not too far from her home in Bethesda, and one as a "Resource" teacher (still enabling her to remain in special ed which she loves) which she accepted.  In Chevy Chase, it's even closer to her home, but she's really excited about the position itself, and that was the reason she accepted it.  At this point, it has not been determined if she'll work with the 3rd & 4th or 5th & 6th graders.  Either way, it's exactly what she's wanted to do!  A magnet school for science and math (as well as neighborhood for the local boundaries), she'll also be working with gifted kids who have learning disabilities.  She is already planning strategies, but we suggested she take the weekend off to enjoy!  The pool where she lives opened this weekend and she's enjoying it already, and she's out celebrating tonight!  We could not ask for more.

As you know, our Brooks Family Foundation for RSD is currently accepting donations for RSD research leading to better, safer treatment and a cure.   The decision has already been made, for the present, to direct all of our Foundation proceeds to Dr. Schwartzman's cutting edge research - for the common good of everyone suffering from this nightmare, life-stealing syndrome.   We have made this decision in the hopes that eventually everyone will benefit, and we therefore cannot offer direct Foundation funds for individual patients seeking treatment.  I wish we could, but once I offer one "scholarship" as Dr. S refers to it, I feel we'd have to grant them to others.  I therefore had the unhappy task of relating this to someone who, like Tracy was last year, in constant, totally debilitating pain from RSD.

I received a round-a-bout e-mail on Thursday, which made me a aware for the first time of Carrie Deussing, a  young woman, 30 years of age, married two years and suffering from what she's described as rapidly spreading RSD which resulted from a case of shingles she had last summer.  She's seen Dr. Schwartzman who recommended she be treated with the ketamine coma, but she could not get into the protocol in Germany, apparently, for a couple of years!  In this kind of pain, especially rapidly advancing, two years is way too long to wait.  Therefore, Dr. Schwartzman referred her for the program in Mexico.  She's already been seen for this program by Dr. Kirkpatrick (anesthesiologist/pain specialist in Tampa, FL) who's examined her, and believes she's a good candidate for their program in Mexico.  Even though Carrie's RSD is rapidly advancing, she has had it for a relatively short period of time (compared to most of the people with advanced cases) and they believe this may just knock it out completely!  What a gift that would be!  There is, however, a hitch.  Carrie is planning her own fundraising event on June 8th, has hired a caterer, has great plans for the Fundraiser -  with an auction, live music, 50/50, and dinner will be served.  Carrie's only asking for $35/pp.   Carly's bought 10 tickets already to help Carrie, but she's not able to attend.   Her tickets will just serve as a donation.  Rick and I are also planning to go.  Any of our friends and family care to join us?   A party with a definite purpose!!!

I've spoken with Carrie and so has Carly.  We were concerned about her doing this with very limited help and so close to her date - she has to pay the caterer no matter what!  Carly remembered vividly all the effort it took her while working to put together Strike RSD! in NY.  And she was not in physical pain like Carrie is.  Carrie's been wheeling herself around malls, in pain, to get sponsors, donors for her auctions, etc.   I cannot have imagined Tracy's trying to accomplish this while she was so debilitated.  Carrie's determined to proceed as planned and She needs a head count soon!  So let's get out there and help Carrie Deussing get herself to Mexico for the ketamine coma. 

The Carrie Deussing RSD Foundation