egroup of the week - Dec.13, 1999

[Guest guest]

(For anyone new to : was highlighted as egroup of the week

December 13, 1999, so quite a number of people saw this on the main

egroup page. I wanted to share this with all of you who are new to

, plus I wanted to put this in our archives, since I wasn't

archiving back then. And boy o boy, have we grown and grown! At my

last check there are 397 members. I think in Dec. 1999 we had less

than 100. - Gretchen)

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- ONElist Community Takes Positive Approach to Living with CMT

Gretchen Glick created at ONElist in September of this year

because she felt there was a lack of positive information exchange and

support for people with CMT (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorder). Her number

one goal with was to provide a place where people with CMT or

parents of CMT children could go to discuss the positive side of living

with CMT. Group members share the many ways they have learned to live

with CMT and maintain a positive outlook. Of course, the group welcomes

members to share their challenges, and they are ready to offer advice,

comfort, support and information while staying true to the positive tone

that Gretchen established the day was created.

For many CMT patients, winter is a lonely and difficult time because the

harsh weather in many parts of the world make it difficult to leave the

house and move around. Thus, isolation and loneliness can often be

overwhelming. Gretchen has found that the community at ONElist

has provided a vital lifeline for people who find themselves alone and

isolated. makes it easy for individuals to remain in constant

contact with fellow members, thus relieving the feeling of being alone.

On Sundays, Gretchen invites her members to post an inspirational quote,

poem or saying. Oftentimes, it is these simple yet touching statements

that have the greatest impact on members.

CMT is the most common inherited neurological disorder, affecting

approximately 150,000 Americans. CMT is found worldwide in all races and

ethnic groups. It was discovered in 1886 by three physicians,

Jean-Marie-Charcot, Pierre Marie, and Henry Tooth. CMT patients

slowly lose normal use of their feet/legs and hands/arms as nerves to

the extremities degenerate. The muscles in the extremities become

weakened because of the loss of stimulation by the affected nerves.