Fantastic SanFran! – IDF Retreat, August 2010

Hotel Kabuki

The IDF staff, patients, and volunteers retreated for the second time this summer the weekend of August 13-15 – this time to beautiful and exciting San Francisco, CA!  

The weather was perfect and the venue was fabulous as over 200 attendees from 17 states flocked to the beautiful Hotel Kabuki for the opportunity to meet and become acquainted with other patients and family members who live with primary immunodeficiency diseases and learn more about living with these diseases. For some, it was the first time to attend an IDF event and meet others living with PIDD.

The presenters were amazing- expert immunologists and experienced professionals who volunteered their time and knowledge to provide the most up-to-date and authoritative information on medical and life management issues:

 USIDNet Registry
Jennifer Puck, MD, University of California-San Francisco

Overview of the Immune System and Primary Immunodeficiency
E. Richard Stiehm, MD, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine

Understanding Immunological Testing
Troy Torgerson, MD, PhD, Seattle Children’s Hospital

Understanding Antibiotic & Antifungal Therapy
Jennifer Puck, MD, University of California-San Francisco

IG Replacement Therapy
Vanessa Howard, RN, FNP, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 

Managing GI Issues
Laurence Cheng, MD, PhD, University of California-San Francisco

Managing Lung Issues
John M. Routes, MD, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Antibody Production Defects
E. Richard Stiehm, MD & Troy Torgerson, MD, PhD

Cellular, Combined & Phagocytic Defects
Jennifer Puck, MD & Mort Cowan, MD, University of California-San Francisco

Ask the Medical Expert Seminar
Drs. Cheng, Cowan, Puck, Routes, Schiff, Stiehm, Torgerson

Healthcare Reform
Elizabeth Stoltz, Baxter Healthcare

Plasma Collection & Safeguards
Josh Penrod, Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association

Living with Chronic Illness
Donna Marie Meszaros, PhD, Abaris and Apex Behavioral Health Clinics

Youth of all ages participated in fun and educational activities throughout the weekend. From the youngest superheroes learning how to really wash their hands and playing IDF Jeopardy to the teens being challenged with their survivor skills, everyone got involved in the fun.  The IDF carnival was also a huge hit.  However, the best part was the opportunity to meet new friends. IDF Teen Council members helped lead youth program sessions-thanks to these remarkable young people, Isaac Antilla and Courtney and Dustin Palmer.

 Chart toping singer and songwriter, Maree McRae performed for the retreaters and shared her story with everyone on Saturday evening. Maree’s credits include top selling artist of the World Music Fest in Sweden and with her new release, Urgency, made the Top Ten National Adult Contemporary Radio Spot with her single, Breeze.

 Of course, none of this could be possible without our generous sponsors.  Much appreciation goes to Baxter Healthcare, CSL Behring, IgG America/ ASD Healthcare, Octapharma, Talecris Biotherapeutics, and Walgreens-Ig Therapy Program for their support.

 The IDF Retreat participants had an amazing time, as evidenced by these comments!

•  “I can’t thank you enough—for the first time I am feeling that I am not alone”
• “I want to thank everyone for the time and effort put into this amazing weekend.  Our entire family benefited from this and had a great time doing it.  Thank you does not seem an adequate way to express our gratitude.”
• “So valuable—thank you to the medical staff and IDF for making this possible”
• “I immensely enjoyed this retreat.  Very empowering.  Thank you”
• “This was great to attend, to interact with others, and that our child was able to meet people/kids that also have this condition”

 Please add your voice by COMMENTING below about your time at the Retreat.  Also, check out the calendar of events to find out about more exciting activities from IDF! http://www.primaryimmune.org/IDFCalendar/default.htm

Let us know if you are involved in any Community In Action in your area!  Comment or fill out the Contact form at the top of the page to have your story told in a future blog post.