Successful CCSVI Event in Brandon, FL
Nicki Beagle-Watts, Patient Advisory Board member of CCSVI Alliance, recently reported on a very successful event held in Brandon, FL on April 26th.   It was a casual meeting at a local Cheesecake Factory restaurant. These local informational events can provide much-needed dialogue with the doctors involved in investigating CCSVI.  The  doctors present were Dr. Bulent Arslan, Associate Professor of Radiology at Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Brian Montague, SDI Imaging, and Dr. Jerry Niedzwiecki of Advanced Imaging and Interventional Institute.  Thanks to Nicki for her hard work!  Here is her report from the event:   It was very successful. We had about 45-50 people attend along with 3 doctors.  A good mix of those who have had the angioplasty,  ones scheduled and some who knew little to nothing about it.   The doctors moved easily between the patient seating areas and really seemed to be at ease talking with the patients, one on one. They were engaging and answered any and all questions. Everyone said they learned so much and were so grateful to me for organizing this. The doctors really enjoyed it and they were dressed in regular clothes and seemed like regular people. That part was also noticed by many. We had name tags for everyone, but that was it. Many people mentioned how compassionate the doctors were and how willing they were to share and talk with them. They thought it was unbelievable!    Once people realized that it wasn't a sit down and listen to a doctor speak event, they really began mingling and talking to each other. I had printed up a fact sheet that helped, and at the end of the night all 60 of the sheets were gone, so folks are wanting to learn about CCSVI.      Thanks again to Nicki for organizing this event!!