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WELCOME
TO THE MASS. CFIDS/FM ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
We are pleased to welcome you
to our organization and to our web site.
The Mass. CFIDS/FM Association is one of the oldest voluntary
patient associations in the United States. Founded in 1985,
our organization exists to meet the needs of CFIDS (Chronic
Fatigue, Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) and FM (Fibromyalgia)
patients, their families and loved ones.
Our Mission
We
offer support, information and services to help patients and
their families cope with and educate themselves about this
illness. We provide information to enable patients to seek
and utilize better medical and health care. When patients
are no longer able to continue working, we can counsel them
on how to apply for disability benefits and other forms of
public and private assistance.
Our mission also involves patient
advocacy, and medical and public education.
We
work to organize patient efforts to press the government medical
research agencies to fund biological research into the real
causes and treatments for CFIDS and FM.
We
must also educate doctors and the general public about the
real and serious nature of these illnesses. All too often,
CFIDS and FM are not recognized as physical and disabling
illnesses. Patient groups have to work to overcome the myths
and misconceptions that we face.
Our
Website:
Our
website provides access to:
-
Information on many topics relating to the illnesses
-
Links
to other sources and organizations
-
Patient
services and Advocacy efforts
-
New
England Local Support groups
-
Physician
and health care provider referral
-
Our
5-day a week telephone information line
-
Disability
counseling
-
The
best and most comprehensive Social Security Disability
booklet – now available for downloading
We
offer access to our various services via email or you may simply write and ask a question about
the illnesses.
If
you have any suggestions about our web site, or information
or links you would like us to consider posting, please write
to our webmaster.
Would you like to help?
We
are an all-volunteer organization. If you are a patient and
have a little time and energy you would like to share, let
us know. We will talk with you about your interests, skills,
and how you could help. Remember, even a little time, put
together with the efforts of others can accomplish a great
deal. If you are a healthy family member or friend, we also
need you your help. You can write to us through our volunteer
e-mail
or call me, Ken Casanova, President, at 617-522-5835.
Donations:
Without your donations, we cannot continue to provide and
increase our services. We have the costs of our web site,
information line, mailings, advocacy and education work. We
are a tax-exempt, non-profit charitable corporation, so your
donations are tax deductible.
We
do not charge for our services (except for specific products).
But if you support our work or receive help from us, then
a donation of what you can afford will make it possible
for others to receive help.
Why We Must Join Together
We
must not suffer these illnesses alone and in silence. As patients
and families, most often we are the only ones who really understand
this illness (except for some dedicated health care providers).
Because of this mutual understanding, we are able to support
each other.
The
other truth is that these illnesses will not be conquered
or treatments found without patients coming together and exercising
their strength in numbers. If we are just isolated and sick
individuals, our needs will largely go unnoticed; but if we
work together and exercise our common voice and action, we
can push for more and better research, physician and public
education, and other essential disability services.
Ken Casanova,
President
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