| Our Newsletter -- February-March 2005, Annual Resource Guide |
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This issue we publish our second annual Resources Guide. It’s extensive but we hope you find it worth it. Please consider bringing this newsletter to your health care provider for him or her to share.
We also want to thank Covermark for renewing as a Diamond Sponsor and Dermablend as a Silver Sponsor. Without our sponsor's support we would not be able to provide you Birthmarks.com.
Now that we are a nonprofit, we would like to introduce you to our new Board of Directors:
- Michael Steffano, Executive Director and founder
- Bill Ritchie, father of Geoff Ritchie
- Dorothy Steffano, Michael's mother
We will be getting their bios online soon (promise!).
We have also started our new Medical Advisory Board. Our first member is David Darrow, MD, DDS, of the Center for Hemangiomas and Vascular Birthmarks, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Eastern Virginia Medical School.
We would also like to extend a note of thanks to Julie Higgins (mom to Ben), of our newsgroup, for taking the time to review and edit the Find a Doctor list for Minnesota doctors and medical centers who offer treatment for birthmarks. We actively encourage our members to review the doctor lists for their state and region, and send us comments, edits, deletions, and most of all, names of doctors they recommend. Doctors can include ENTs, dentists, radiologists, surgeons, dermatologists, etc. That said, we always recommend you ask in our newsgroup for referrals.
If you are a member of our newsgroup (or considering becoming one) please take the time to review our updated newsgroup guidelines. There have been some important additions regarding soliciting our members. As well, it's just good for everyone to reacquaint themselves with the guidelines of our great community!
And keep your eyes peeled as we begin to release more information about the upcoming 3rd Annual VBF Port Wine Stain Conference in Irvine, CA this October.
Enjoy!
Michael Steffano |
 Birthmarks.com Internet Resources Guide 2006
By Glenda Ethington, updated by Stephanie Cale
A wealth of information on birthmarks, treatments, and related diseases. Resources include support groups, charitable foundations, publications, family websites, and even self-help resources, with links to more than 100 web sites. |
 Angel Kiss Mentoring Program
By Jay Franco, Director
Birthmarks.com community members who have direct experience with the trials, tribulations, and adulations of living with birthmarks offer their support, wisdom, and guidance to those seeking the same. |
 Resources at Birthmarks.com
By Chet Leighton
How do I find...? A tour of the information and support resources available free of charge at Birthmarks.com. |
 Web Search Leads to New Resource
By Glenda Ethington
Kassi is a young woman in New Zealand who was diagnosed with PHACES in 2002. After searching the Internet unsuccessfully for a support group, she started her own. |
 Candela Patient Spotlight
The story of Mary Nichols, who has port wine stains covering over ¾ of her upper body. She is extremely happy with the results of treatments with Candela’s Vbeam laser. (Includes a pair of before and after photos.) |
 Clae's Story
By Tamara Gross
Birthmarks.com regrets the passing of Clae Eric Gross-Hiltz, October 17, 2002-December 19, 2004. Clae died after a short but courageous fight with meningitis. He was much loved and will be greatly missed. Here is his story, written by his mother. |
 Sponsor's Corner: Laser Treatment for Port-Wine Stains (PWS) using Flash Lamp Pulsed Dye (FLPD)
By Jeff Tisue, C.S.T., Candela
Explains how Candela’s VBeam, a Flash Lamp Pulsed Dye laser, is used to treat port wine stain birthmarks. |
 The Makeup Room: Taking It Off
By Joie Davidow
Tips and techniques in removing makeup, especially for heavy makeup users |
 Resources for Overcoming Depression
By Charlie Cale, Newsgroup Administrator
How do you deal with the emotional problems of strange stares, rejections, and wanting to be "normal?" You need to be a key member of your own support group of friends and family. |
 Our Newsgroup Guidelines -- Updated December 2005
By Stephanie Cale, Charlie Cale, Michael Steffano, and Chet Leighton-Amborn
Old, new, and prospective newsgroup members... please take a moment to review our updated guidelines. |
 Links of Interest: Feb-Mar 05
The KT Foundation was created in 2002 by Mark and Del Metcalf who's son Kyle suffers from Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome. The KT Foundation's objectives are to raise awareness for KT to both the general public and the medical community - primarily pediatric |
 Case Report and Review of Literature: Acquired Port-wine Stains and Antecedent Trauma
By Brian B. Adams, MD; Anne W. Lucky, MD
While cases of congenital port-wine stains (PWSs) are relatively common, cases of acquired PWSs are quite rare. Many of the reported cases of the acquired type have been reported to be related to previous trauma. |
 Letters to the Editor: Feb-Mar 05
Does everyone have a birthmark? Finding others with a similar birthmark, finding information about PWS and pregnancy, and more. |
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| Disclaimer: Information accessed and provided through Birthmarks.com resources (website, newsgroup, newsletters, and e-mails.) is presented in summary form in order to impart general information relating to the diagnosis and treatment of port wine stains, tattoo removal, and other skin disorders. Such information is not complete and should not be used as a substitute for a consultation or visit with your physician, health care provider, or board certified specialist. Information accessed through our resources is not exhaustive and does not cover every aspect of port wine stains, tattoo removal, and other skin disorders. Birthmarks.com makes no warranty as to the information's completeness, reliability or accuracy. Should you have any health care related questions regarding this matter, please see your health care provider promptly. Information provided in response to email questions is generic and not intended to be specific to any one patient. Each patient should see his or her physician, health care provider, or board certified specialist regarding their condition. |
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