July 7, 2005 -- On Sat., August 13, 2005, the ARDS Foundation will host its 3rd annual “March for Miracles” benefit at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL.
“ After I spent four weeks in a coma and eight weeks on a ventilator, I committed myself to increasing awareness about this devastating syndrom... ”
Events will include a walk/run, along with entertainment and breakfast. Proceeds from the event will be used to promote public awareness, for education and for medical research into Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Over the past three years, this event has raised more than $40,000. Registration for this year’s march will begin at 7:30 a.m. http://ardsusa.org/marchformiracles2005.htm
Cost for the event is $15.00 for an individual and $30.00 for a family.
Also, beginning at 4 p.m. on August 13, 2005, the ARDS Foundation is hosting their first ARDS Mini-Conference. Speakers include G. R. Scott Budinger, M.D., Michael Moore, M.D., and H. Steven Sadowsky, PT, RRT, MS, CCS, all from Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Also speaking will be ARDS Survivor, Pastor Jack Yonts, who will address issues of prayer, grief and spirituality in relation to ARDS.
http://ardsusa.org/mini-conference.htm
ARDS is a life-threatening condition that leads to a dangerous loss in the functioning of the lungs. Although there are more than 60 distressed conditions that can bring on ARDS, the most common are pneumonia, sepsis (an overwhelming infection in the body), aspiration of fumes, food or stomach contents into the lung, and trauma. These conditions cause the body to manufacture substances that may cause inflammation in the lungs. Once inflamed, the alveoli (air sacs) are then unable to perform the normal oxygenation of the blood. There are approximately 150,000 reported cases of ARDS per year. Yet because ARDS is often linked with other distressed conditions, it is believed that the actual number of cases per year is significantly higher.
ARDS is particularly complicated because no patient enters the hospital with ARDS as their admitting diagnosis. However, almost anyone who is admitted to a hospital is at risk to develop ARDS.
More than 75,000 Americans will die this year from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Ten years ago, ARDS suddenly changed the life of then 33-year-old attorney, Eileen Rubin Zacharias. “After I spent four weeks in a coma and eight weeks on a ventilator, I committed myself to increasing awareness about this devastating syndrome,” said Zacharias, ARDS Foundation President. “Over the past five years, we have been working passionately to find ways to raise money that will lead to increased medical knowledge that can be used to fight ARDS. But it is essential to educate the ARDS Community as well, and with this mini-conference, we will be able to bring experts to educate.”
Paula Blonski, who lost her sister, Marybeth, a nurse, at the age of thirty-six, said, “ARDS seriously lacks public awareness, and as a result, ARDS research is severely under funded,” said Blonski, Vice President of the ARDS Foundation. “While the ARDS Foundation has been able to offer their first grant in partnership with the American Thoracic Society, we are dedicated to doing more. " Paula emphasizes, "We can only begin to make a difference by expanding education, awareness and governance initiatives that will empower individuals to promote early diagnoses and successful treatment of ARDS.”
To learn more about ARDS and the ARDS Foundation, please visit www.ardsusa.org or call 1.312.749.7047.
