We're back home and now I get what all the fuss is about :)

July 4, 2007

Everyone was right, the Conference is something that every family

should be able to attend and now I am feeling especially charged to

try to organize something locally here in VA (don't know how yet).

This was the first for us and we are fairly new to JIA (see, I

learned to new current terminology too, lol!), having only gotten our

diagnosis a year and a half ago. Anyway, I see now that most

families really do need to attend more than once since treatments are

always changing and developing. Also, alternative therapies are

being explored and proven helpful (an actual breakout session on

alternative treatments, yea!). One conference is NOT ENOUGH for any

family if a new treatment may be a Godsend for one child and getting

that information is imparative to that family. Anywho, I know I have

heard that it's important to attend at least one conference and I

would love to see the end of that thinking because the information in

the 2007 Conference may be very different from the information

received at say the 2009 Conference, ya know? I understand now why

advocacy is so important and from the local stand point is I guess

the best place to start. If we all do that then.....perhaps many,

more deserving families can go next year..etc. We could only afford

to go this year because we lucked out, as it was only a 2 hour drive

for us. Next year we probably can't but it's my mission now to make

sure that I help some other family go!

I attended a break out session on IEP and 504's and got to meet Liz

. Her doctor is fantastic and I got a lot out of that one

and tucked the info. into a file to get started on all that for

Kindergarten 2 yrs. from now.

I also got a lot out of the alternative medicine session and then the

diet and exercise session. I got to leave for the DC fireworks but

will try to post a summary on those tomorrow after PT with Isabelle.

Good to be home and I cannot believe it but I am actually " chocolated

out " :)LOL! -Hadley

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