New Forum Section: Support Groups and Communities of Hope

[Marrowforums]

Marrowforums is pleased to announce the addition of a new forum section:

Support Groups and Communities of Hope

This section provides a home for announcements, as well as questions and comments, about bone marrow failure disease support groups in your city.

Support groups range from small informal gatherings to larger groups, some affiliated with treatment centers or medical organizations. They include the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation's Communities of Hope.


Why participate in a local support group?

Online forums like Marrowforums have a world-wide reach, but sometimes there's no substitute for person-to-person support.

Patient conferences let you meet other patients and their families but won't necessarily be near you. Local support groups may meet frequently in a location close to you.

At a local support group meeting you can see and hear other patients on a regular basis and speak to them much more personally. They not only know what you are going through, they are with you. If you need a handshake, a pat on the back, a shoulder to cry on, or just a hug, consider a local support group.


If you are a patient or family member, we encourage to you

• Look in the Support Groups and Communities of Hope forum for an AA, MDS, or PNH support group in your area. You can also contact your local treatment center to learn about any groups they sponsor or other local support resources.
  
  
• Let Marrowforums members know you belong to a group or plan to be at a meeting by posting in the forum thread for that group.
  
  
• Consider starting an AA, MDS, and/or PNH support group in your area, if there isn't one already. The AA&MDSIF is ready to help; contact Community Development Manager Martha Crews by email or phone 301-279-7202 x103.
  
  
• Connect individually with other patients in your city using the Your Local Area forum.
  
  
• Continue using the Marrowforums forums when you have a question or concern and want to reach the widest audience.

[Marrowforums]

If you are a local support group organizer, facilitator, host, or sponsor, we invite you to use Marrowforums to get the word out about your support group and its meetings.

Here's how to do it:

1. Join Marrowforums if you are not already a member. See how to register.
   
   
2. To make the first announcement for your group:
   
   
   • Go to the Support Groups and Communities of Hope forum.
     
     
   • Click the New Thread button.
     
     
   • Type a Title that names your group, e.g.,

     "San Antonio Texas Support Group"

     or

     "San Jose California Community of Hope"

   • Type a Message saying where and when your group meets, the schedule of any upcoming meeting, how people can sign up, and who to contact for more information.
     
     
   • Click the Submit New Thread button.
   
   See an example announcement thread.
   
   
3. To make further meeting announcements or post other news about your group:
   
   
   • Go to the Support Groups and Communities of Hope forum.
     
     
   • Click the thread for your group that you created the first time.
     
     
   • Click the Post Reply button.
     
     
   • Type a Message with your meeting announcement or news.
     
     
   • Click the Submit Reply button.
   
   Any member of the group can do these steps.
   
   
4. Contact Marrowforums if you'd like help with any of these steps.