Giving Tuesday 2019

    Dr Heather Leitch
    "I’ve been a member of the AAMAC Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee for several years. My activities have included advising on approaches to access of medications, revising criteria for research grant application, and reviewing research grant proposals. I’ve also participated in Annual Patient Education Days as a speaker and moderator. My clinical and research interests focus on the importance of transfusional iron overload in acquired anemias and its impact on clinical outcomes. It’s been a pleasure to work with the AAMAC and I wish them a very happy 30th anniversary and look forward to working with them toward the next milestones".
    Canadian Nurses Foundation
    "CNF recognizes and congratulates AAMAC, on this their 30th anniversary. We thank AAMAC for their collaboration over the past 19 years that has helped provide nurses with the educational and research support so needed in the care of patients and families challenged with diseases related to bone marrow failure”. Christine Rieck Buckley, CEO, Canadian Nurses Foundation
    Paul Simpson, National Patient Relations Manager, Novartis Oncology
    “Congratulations AAMAC on your 30th Anniversary of serving the needs of aplastic anemia, MDS, and PNH patients in Canada! We value our partnership and collaboration with AAMAC for the benefit of your patient community.”
    Silvia Marchesin
    “I like to think that I provided hope and encouragement to patients during my years volunteering with AAMAC. I also learned a lot during my time, especially by being on the Board of Directors".
    Clara D'Abreu
    "I was inspired to volunteer at AAMAC through attending monthly support group meetings. When I was first diagnosed with MDS in 2004, I was told that it was a rare disease. By attending the meetings, I was with people just like me. I volunteer so that I can share my story with others who are recently diagnosed.
      I enjoy meeting each patient and providing some comfort at a stressful time in their life. Once a month I oversee an AAMAC information booth where people can drop by and get information about blood disorders. It’s also an opportunity for MDS patients to chat with me and I can share my journey with them. When speaking to others, I feel they get a sense of relief knowing that they are not alone".
    Joe MacDonald
    "May of 2008 I was diagnosed with MDS. In July of 2008 I became aware of AAMAC and after some research, I decided to become involved. I made this decision because I knew that my family and I needed support to navigate this diagnosis. It was clear to me that AAMAC provides a bone marrow failure specific support system for my uncommon disease. AAMAC is also an excellent resource for our family members as they try to become as informed as possible about bone marrow failure in all of it’s forms.
      Through AAMAC my family and I were able to access education, research, specialists, caregivers and perhaps most importantly others who are fighting these diseases. We came to realize that we are not in the fight alone and for this I am very grateful".
    Maureen O'Kill
    "I have had several close family members affected by blood cancers and MDS.
      I've experienced first-hand how crucial it is to have a strong support system in place in addition to medical treatment when coping with a diagnosis of these conditions.
      Volunteering at AAMAC as an office volunteer gives me a sense of satisfaction that I am, if only in a small way, contributing to that support system that provides so many resources and services to clients and their families".
    Caroline Laughlin
    "It all began at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto when a haematologist and 6 parents sat down to discuss the need of forming an association to support patients and their families affected by aplastic anemia. Thirty years later we have the Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplasia Association of Canada which supports patients coast to coast by disseminating information, raising funds for research and supporting the National Bone Marrow Registry and more recently One Match.
      In order to make AAMAC such a success, hundreds of volunteers have given their time and talents to help Canadians who are affected by these rare diseases. We can continue to grow by having your financial support".
    Rosemary Pauer
    "I have been a peer support volunteer for many years, and am always glad to talk to people, especially those first diagnosed, as I know how difficult and confusing it is at the start, and often the oncologist doesn’t mention support groups like AAMAC. I was told “Look MDS up online”! I don’t drive long distances, so not able to attend all the meetings and there isn’t a whole lot I can do, apart from telling anyone I can about MDS. I have had an information table at a local church’s Evening of Hope for cancer survivors, but they haven’t run it the last few years.
      I have made quilts for Hospice for many many years, and they count me as one of their volunteers. I put a lot of myself into the quilts, because there’s no cure for my MDS, and I can empathise with what their clients are going through. The only decent photo I have is one taken at a Hospice volunteer appreciation night, if you feel you can use that. Otherwise it’s me and my tomatoes, and I have to say that the tomatoes look far better than I do!

    Updated: (PW)