This week, I’d like to introduce you to the American Foundation of Thyroid Patients, and its founder and Executive Director, Kelly Hale. I had the opportunity to speak with Kelly for quite a while this week, and she and I were definitely on the same wavelength in terms of our attitudes about thyroid disease, our concern for the lack of information available to patients, and the need for proactive, patient-oriented outreach and support!

Kelly was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease five years ago, and found herself in the typical doctor runaround, with difficulty in getting a diagnosis, being told she was "stressed out," and being treated condescendingly by a series of doctors – not to mention getting little information about her problem and its symptoms. Kelly, looking for sources of more information and support, found there were no active patient-oriented support organizations to help her in the Houston area… so she started one herself!

Now, the American Foundation of Thyroid Patients is a non-profit support/educational organization for thyroid patients and their family members, officially founded in 1993.

Kelly’s group is a truly thyroid patient-founded and patient-run support organization, giving it a different focus than the Thyroid Foundation of America and Thyroid Society, both of which see their mission as primarily educational.

Currently, the American Foundation of Thyroid Patients sponsors monthly support groups in Houston, and in 1998, the organization plans to go national, funded 90 percent by memberships and support from thyroid patients. They’ll be setting up interest groups/support chapters around the country, and sponsoring quarterly thyroid screening events. They're also expecting to have a website online by the end of the year.

If you are a thyroid patient who would like to lend your support to an organization that is solely patient-focused, your $20 annual membership will not only support the American Foundation of Thyroid Patients, but will also get you the Foundation’s quarterly newsletter!

So, if you’d like more information about how to join, and how to set up an American Foundation of Thyroid Patients interest group/support chapter, please contact:

Kelly Hale
Executive Director
American Foundation of Thyroid Patients
P. O. Box 820195
Houston, TX 77282
281/496-4460 in Houston,TX
888/996-4460 toll-free
Email: thyroid@flash.net

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If you want to drop me a line, email me at thyroid.guide@about.com!

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