A number of young people have requested a forum for teens, where young people can voice their concerns and support one another. Young people between the ages of 13 and 17 are invited to join us on a telephone conference call:
Sunday, January 25, 1998, 4 pm EST
Sunday, February 22, 1998, 4 pm EST
Sunday, March 29, 1998, 4 pm EST
Sunday, April 26, 1998, 4 pm EST
Sunday, May 17, 1998, 4 pm EST
Sunday, June 28, 1998, 4 pm EST
These calls are open to all teens whose family is affected in any way by VHL -- whether they themselves have VHL, or a parent, brother, sister, or other relative has VHL.
To obtain dialing information, please call 1-800-767-VHL. There will be a group of teens on the line. Please choose a place with a quiet background so that everyone can hear. Please do not use two extensions in the same house at the same time, as this can cause interference on the line. It's a little like meeting in a dark cave: you can't see the faces, but you can hear one another just fine.
The meeting will be facilitated by Peggy M., Co-Chair of the VHL Family Alliance, a professional child care provider, mother and grandmother. Peggy has had VHL herself since she was 12 years old. Her daughter Tammy was diagnosed at age 15, and her granddaughter Kari was diagnosed at age 9.
If you would like to call in from outside the U.S., please call 617-277-5667 to make a reservation so that we can arrange a line for you to call.
We are still seeking sponsors -- funding, or weekend use of corporate telephone switching equipment -- to keep this service going. If you can help, please call Peggy at 1-800-767-4VHL.
As published in the VHL Family Forum 5:4, December 1997. For permission to reprint, please contact VHL Family Alliance, editor@vhl.org. Further information is available from the VHL Family Alliance, info@vhl.org.
