On Saturday, May 5, The Kansas City chapter of the Vasculitis Foundation sponsored a half-day symposium in the Cohen Center of the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library. Jerry Niebaum, KC Chapter Leader, welcomed more than 40
attendees and talked about the early years of the VF; in the beginning it was known as the
Wegener's Granulomatosis Support Group. Later the name was changed to Wegener's
Granulomatosis Association; then Foundation and now is called Vasculitis
Foundation. He then introduced Joyce Kullman, Executive Director of the Vasculitis Foundation, who in turn introduced Dr. Carol Langford who is Director,
Center for Vasculitis Care and Research, Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Langford reported on the new treatments for
patients with vasculitis and discussed the treatments that are available
now. She paid tribute to Dr. Nabih Abdou of Kansas City who
spent his life treating Vasculitis patients. He met Marilyn Sampson, RN, in
the late 1970's; became her physician and supported her efforts with the
Support Group. He still tries to practice Marilyn's 3 C's: Caring,
Compassion and Credibility.
After the morning break and refreshments, a panel
consisting of the following Doctors: Dr. Ken Kwas Huston, MD of the Center
for Rheumatic Disease at St. Luke's Hospital and Dr. Mehrad Maz, MD, who is the
Division director of the Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at KU
Medical Center, Dr. Langford and Dr. Abdou answered questions from the
attendees.
Jerry then casually interviewed Dr. Abdou about his
life. Dr. Abdou was very gracious in telling how he met his wife, Dr. Nancy Abdou,
who was among the attendees. They met at the Mayo Clinic; how he, who was from
Egypt, met and married a lady from Kansas. He said he is enjoying retirement,
enjoys visits with his children, often just to talk; he said he didn't get to
spend as much time with them as he wished when he was working .
His plans include studying ancient Egyptian medicine
and language.
Jerry presented a replica of
the Rosetta stone to Dr. Abdou.
The group was treated to a short violin concert by Allison Lint from Ohio, who has started a 'Violins for Vasculitis' effort to help raise awareness. She gave a brief testimonial about her own vasculitis.
The group was treated to a short violin concert by Allison Lint from Ohio, who has started a 'Violins for Vasculitis' effort to help raise awareness. She gave a brief testimonial about her own vasculitis.
Thirty-eight members of the KC Chapter registered to
attend; that number included seven members of the Kullman family.
Submitted by: Arlene R. Kullman
Photo by Glenn Kullman
Photo by Glenn Kullman