News

We'd like to wish everyone in our community a joyous holiday season and a healthy, happy New Year!

Please note that GDATF patient advocates are usually available from 8a-5p PST Monday through Friday, but our offices will be closed on Monday, afternoon, Dec., 24th and all day on Tuesday, Dec. 25th and Tuesday, Jan. 2nd.  If you have questions, please leave a voice message or send an e-mail using this link, and we will respond as soon as we return.

If you would like to make a year-end contribution to the GDATF, please click here to make a secure online donation.  Or click here to find out how your regular online shopping can help generate funds for our education and support programs!

Thank you for being a part of the Graves’ Disease and Thyroid Foundation’s patient community!  This is a club that none of us wanted to join, but we’re thankful that you found us – and we hope that together we’ve been able to make your journey a little lighter.  As 2018 draws to a close, we’d like to take a moment to share with you some of this year’s accomplishments – before we dive headfirst into 2019!
 
Our biggest milestone for the year was our Patient & Family Conference – “A Bridge to Wellness XX” – held June 14-17 in San Diego.  The event featured two jam-packed days of stellar presentations on autoimmunity as well as all aspects of Graves’ disease: getting a diagnosis, treatment options, mental health issues, and living with thyroid eye disease.  Breakout support group sessions gave patients and family members a chance to connect (many attendees had never met another Graves’ patient before), and there was plenty of social time to enjoy the great food and the beautiful scenery that San Diego has to offer!  Many thanks to our event sponsors: Horizon Pharma, the Bell Charitable Foundation, and the County of San Diego Community Enhancement Grant Program for making this event possible.  The presentations were recorded, and we are currently working on editing the content for posting online!  A few additional highlights from around the country: 

​Statement from the Graves' Disease and Thyroid Foundation (GDATF) on the passing of President George H.W. Bush:

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Pres. George H.W. Bush, and extend our condolences to his family and friends.

With his diagnosis of Graves' disease in 1991, Pres. Bush not only raised the profile of Graves' disease in the public consciousness, but was also an example of how patients can persevere and lead happy, productive, lives. He inspired patients everywhere when he celebrated his 90th birthday with a parachute jump!

He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, First Lady Barbara Bush. Mrs. Bush - who herself was diagnosed with Graves' disease in 1989 - declined to celebrate her own 90th birthday with a parachute jump, quipping, “I'm too smart to jump out of a perfectly good plane."

Pres. Bush was known as a prolific letter writer. GDATF Founder and Chair Emeritus Nancy Hord Patterson, Ph.D. received a typewritten letter of support from Pres. and Mrs. Bush in 1992. ("We are pleased to lend our names to an organization that has done so much to increase the public awareness of Graves' disease. Thank you for extending to us the opportunity of being involved in this worthy endeavor..."). She has always been thankful for their kindness. 

Thank you to the American Thyroid Association for an excellent meeting in Washington, D.C.! Special thanks to all of the doctors and patients who attended yesterday's public forum.

Next stop: Chicago! Please join us on Sun., October 21 for a free patient seminar presented in conjunction with the 21st Annual Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Conference hosted by ThyCa! Click here for additional details or to RSVP!