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Winter 2009
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Vol 2,
Issue 4
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Bonne Nouvelle
Your "Good
News" from TSA of Texas
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TSA of TX:
Helping Children and Changing Lives
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Tourette's syndrome is a neurobehavioral (brain-based)
movement disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. Beginning
in childhood, it causes those affected to make movements and noises they
cannot control. Additionally, many are plagued by
obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, oppositional behavior and other disorders. Although
medication may help control the symptoms, as of yet there is no
cure. TSA of Texas, one of the largest chapters in the country, is
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We directly assist Texas
area families and children in crisis, 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year.
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From the Desk
of the President: Flying
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 by Daryl Brister
We never know what each day will bring. People face the challenges of
each day in different ways. Sometimes we seem to fly over the top of
those challenges. At other times, these trials roll right over the top of
us with a force that presses us down.
These challenges come first and foremost in our
families - children struggling with TS, ADHD, or OCD; teenagers
wanting to be more like other teenagers instead of just being their
wonderful selves. Or the task of managing family matters while
trying to "look and act" normal (I'm still looking for the
definition of "Normal"). There are also the challenges of
working so bills can be paid, putting some money aside for savings (ha!),
and hopefully, having a little extra left over to go to the movies once
in a while. Let's not forget about those pressures at work each day.
Maybe the difficulty comes in the form of a supervisor or manager asking
you to do more with less without any extra resources. It is just
expected. As if that was not enough to deal with, there are also the
challenges of maintaining relationships with others. Where does it end?
That is a very good question to which the answer
is a bit different for each person who is reading this. As I started this
article out, "People face the challenges of each day in
different ways," the key to remember is that we all have our highs
and lows each day. On a personal note, some days I face challenges head
on! On other days, I really don't want to even get out of bed, but I know
that I must and so I begin to struggle through my day. However, the goal
is always to try to start each day new and not let my mind dwell on
things that "might happen" or "what if?" As I wrote
in the previous newsletter, I would have never seen myself where I'm at
today, but here I am. How did that happen? I think part of it is starting
each day new, one step at a time. Another part is just working hard to
"press on." BUT - there are those rare days that I fly...and
the view is amazing! What do I mean by that? I don't know that I can
explain it; other than to say that on those days I seem to soar above the
challenges. WOW!
These challenges we face each day are not meant
to be faced alone. Without my wife, two sons, church family, TSA of Texas
family, friends, co-workers, and the list goes on, the days would be
tougher to face. Have you ever been amazed by the power of a kind word? I
have found it to be like a gentle breeze that picks me up. With that in
view, we should make the time to let those around us know we're there and
appreciate them. We can't forget we are here to support each other,
especially when the tough "challenge" days happen. With this in
mind, the TSA of Texas Board appreciates all you do to support those with
TS and those affected by TS. Even if you only tell one child with TS that
you love them regardless... then today is your day to FLY! Enjoy the
view.
Daryl
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Texas Hotlines
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Houston:
281-238-8096
Emergency
Pager: 800-209-0796
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Texas Support Groups
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TSA of Texas has support groups in Austin, Channelview, Dallas, Fort Worth, East Texas/Golden Triangle, Katy, North Houston and San Antonio. Learn More>>. To start a support group in your area, please contact
Sheryl Kadmon, Executive Director of TSA of Texas, at 281-238-8096
or toll free at 866-894-8686.
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Save These Dates!
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- March
20 - 22 - du
Ballon Rouge Children's Weekend
- April
25 - Meet
author Brad Cohen in Houston. Watch the website for more
information.
- May
15 - June 15 - TSA Awareness Month
- May
16 - An Evening of Jazz - I Groove to my Own
Move! This fundraiser benefits the North Texas TS Support
Group and TSA of Texas.
- June
12 - 13 - TSA 5th International
Scientific Symposium in New York City. Click here for more
information.
- January
2010 - Medical Conference in Houston at
the Baylor College of Medicine.
Multi-accredited. Tracks for physicians, teachers, social
workers and parents. More information to come soon.
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Action Alert: TS National Health Program
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 This is an urgent
issue which needs your immediate attention. TSA is
calling on you to take to help secure continued funding for the Tourette
Syndrome Public Health Education and Research Program at the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Congress has funded this program for the
past five years. But in the month since Inauguration Day, Congress
has begun to implement procedural changes that affects
support among both Republican and Democratic Members. In addition to
this challenge, the TS Community has lost two ardent Congressional
Champions who rallied support for our community. Former Senator Hillary
Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) will not be circulating a
"Dear Colleague Letter" on our behalf, since they are no longer
Members of this Congress. Click here for more
information. Click here to send
an electronic message to your Representatives now.
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du Ballon Rouge Is Almost Here
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 The
7th annual du Ballon Rouge Children's Camping Weekend will be
held March 20 - 22, 2009 at Camp For All in Burton, TX.
Underwritten by TSA of Texas and
other generous donors and at no cost to attendees, dBR provides an
accepting yet vibrant setting for children with Tourette's syndrome to
experience events and activities that can actually change the quality and
outcome of their lives. The weekend begins with a campfire on
Friday evening and concludes with our Red Balloon Ceremony on Sunday
morning.
A very few number of
spaces remain at this writing. If you haven't sent in your child's
application forms yet, please fax them NOW to 281-238-0468. Click here to download an
application form.
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Send a Lucky Child to du Ballon Rouge
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Would you like to
help send a child with TS to camp? Your $100.00 tax-deductible
donation will send one happy camper to du Ballon rouge. Click here for more
information.
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Meet Brad Cohen in Houston
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Brad Cohen will be speaking to
TSA of Texas in Houston on April 25, 2009. Brad is the author of Front of the Class: How
Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had. His
book was recently made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie that will
be available on DVD in Hallmark stores in mid-April. There will
be no cost to attend, and autographed copies of Brad's
book will be available at a discounted price. Watch
the website for more
information on time and location.
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Meet Brad's Mom: An Interview with Ellen Goldstein
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 Ellen Goldstein is warm, open and
friendly, even over the phone. You'd like her. It's easy to see how
her attitude and determination could help her son overcome almost
insurmountable obstacles to become the man he is today. Ellen's son is
Brad Cohen, who tells his uplifting, heart-wrenching story in Front of the Class: How Tourette
Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had. Brad's book
was also made into a wonderful Hallmark Hall of Fame movie which will be
available on DVD at Hallmark stores in mid-April. Of course Ellen
is immensely proud of Brad, especially the impact he has as a role model
to kids with TS and other disabilities, but she's also glad he remains
humble and low key, even telling her that speaking to a crowd of 1700 at
the Capitol in Washington D.C. was "no big deal."
Ellen played an important role in encouraging
Brad to write "Front of the Class." Shortly after he
received the Teacher of the Year award, she told him it was time to write
a book. "Who'll read it?" he asked. "I
will" was the answer. And when she did read it, years later,
she felt it was an open letter to her. He had included many
incidents he had never before told even her. Brad struggled through many
rejections before finding a publisher for his book, but once he did,
Ellen remembers thinking "now he's probably going to be on
Oprah." And he was! Then she thought "it's time for
a movie"-- not really believing that too would soon be a
reality.
The movie got started when Brad happened to
share a limo with Tim Shriver when they were both speaking at the same
event. Tim is the current Chairman and CEO of the Special Olympics
and a member of the Kennedy Family. Both speakers received standing
ovations, but Brad's was just a little longer than Tim's. Tim joked
he wanted to find out more about this Brad fellow, so Brad sent him a
signed copy of his book. And the rest, as they say, is history.
You'll see in the credits that Tim is the movie's producer.
Ellen was really pleased with how the movie
turned out. Jimmy Wolk was unbelievable - she almost couldn't tell
the difference between him and Brad. He had Brad's tics and
mannerisms down pat. She also liked Patricia Heaton, who plays her
in the movie, but still can't see herself as being so calm as portrayed
in the movie.
Ellen has lots of great advice for other parents
of children with TS:
1. Most importantly, don't hide your child's diagnosis. People know
something is wrong, and they are more accepting if they know what it
is. It is important to your child's self esteem to know you accept
them as they are. Ellen learned this lesson the hard way. She
initially didn't tell people about Brad's diagnosis--but as soon as she
started talking about it things improved! If you couldn't accept
her or her children, she did not want you in her life. But there
were very few who could not accept it, and Brad felt better knowing that
she was not hiding him, but was always standing behind him.
2. Don't baby your child. Let them be kids. Let them fall
down. Let them learn they can survive. This will only make
them stronger.
3. Take some chances. Many people doubted Ellen's decision to let
Brad join the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization for Jewish teens.
Participating in this leadership development program would be challenging
even for a child who did not have TS. But it turned out that this
did more for him than anything else. He learned a lot, traveled
internationally, had the chance to speak publicly, and developed
confidence in himself..
4. If you can, send them to camp every summer. They learn so much
and get a chance to release some energy.
5. Live one day at a time. You just don't know what the future will
hold.
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An Evening of Jazz: I Groove to My Own Move
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 Enjoy a casual evening of
jazz starring Tetra featuring
Shilah Phillips. Benefiting the North
Texas Tourette Syndrome Support Group and the Tourette Syndrome
Association of Texas, this fun event will be held May 16, 2009 at
7:00 pm at the R.L. Turner High School Performance Hall in Carrollton,
Texas. Tickets are only $15.00 and may be purchased online by
clicking here. Click here for
more information. We hope to see you there!
Can't attend but still
want to help? Donations of any amount are also being accepted.
Please contact Emily.
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Best Emotional Intelligence Websites of 2008
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 by Dr. Lawrence Shapiro
The Internet has had a profound affect on how we raise kids. Most
of the time, the Internet is a positive force, providing us with
information, connecting us with people, and aiding in the education of
our kids. I have been particularly interested in web sites that
deal with the mental health, the health, and safety of children and can't
help but be excited when I find sites which are both authoritative and
engaging. The websites are categorized by subject and listed in
alphabetical order.
Altruism
http://www.FreeRice.com
I've recommended this site several times throughout the
year as a way kids and teens can build vocabulary, language, and other
academic skills while donating to help feed hungry people throughout the
world. With each right answer, the user donates 20 grains of rice
(you will visually see how the rice is added to a virtual bowl), and
you'll be surprised to see how quickly the rice mounts up. Money is
donated to the UN World Food Program from the site sponsors. Best
Features: This site is elegantly simple and kids can start helping
feed the hungry in seconds.
Bullying
http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/index.asp?Area=webisodes
Brought to you by the US Department of Health and Human
Services, this website offers a character based online resource to teach
young kids about bullying. Webisodes show short animated cartoons
that teach kids about the different kinds of bullying and how to handle
them and interactive games help reinforce the concepts. Best
Feature: There are places on the site for educators and parents.
The site is in both English and Spanish
Drug Abuse Prevention
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/index.asp
This website doesn't talk down to teens, but rather
emphasizes the science of drug abuse. It includes facts, real
stories, quizzes, and more. I'm not sure whether teens would be
excited about this, but the site includes downloads of anti-drug slogans
to use on t-shirts, computer "wall paper," and stickers.
Best Feature: Smart lessons for teachers and parents including free
downloads.
Humor
http://www.jokesbykids.com/
Humor is such an important asset to a child, I recommend
daily visits to this site for a good laugh. This website
features jokes "by kids and for kids," and as you will see,
kids submit jokes from all over the world. Best
Features: Kids not only submit jokes but they get to vote on whether
a joke is funny or not. A clever feature is that the punch line is
"hidden" until you click on it. By the way:
"What is green and has wheels?" Answer:
"Grass, I liked about the wheels." Submitted to the site
by Andrea, age 12.
Kid Safety
http://www.usa.safekids.org/index.cfm
What could be more
important than keeping kids safe? Safe Kids USA is a member of Safe
Kids Wolrdwide, a global network of organizations whose mission is to
prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and
under. The site provides all kinds of safety information, from car
safety, to product recalls, to fire safety. Best Feature:
This is a comprehensive and reliable site that will make you think about
the importance of child safety every day. It also includes
activities for kids, such as quizzes, safety sheets, and coloring
sheets.
I recommend this site over and over again in my
newsletter, because it has such interesting, well-written and timely
articles. Besides articles, kids will find games like
"Mission Nutrition" and movies on subjects like asthma, coping
with the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina, and what it is like to be a
pro athlete. Best Features: Section on Dealing with Feelings
is one of the most comprehensive collections of articles to help kids
with emotional problems and what to do with them. This site
also has a section for parents, which is sure to open your eyes, and fill
your mind with important information. I highly recommend you check
out their recent posting: 10 Kids Health Issues to Watch in
2009." http://kidshealth.org/Features.jsp?lic=1&feature=10
Sponsored by Goldfish™ Crackers (which is evident
throughout the site), this site is dedicated to the benefits of helping
kids become positive and optimistic thinkers. Backed by years of
research, the site interactive activities for kids, videos, and great
ideas for parents. Features: This is one of the few sites
I've found dedicated to raising the emotional intelligence and resiliency
of kids.
Sex Education
http://www.sexetc.org/
This is always a tough issue for parents and many
professionals as well, but we all agree that kids and teens need to know
about sex and sexuality. The site is written "for teens by
teens," so you can be sure it deals with up to the minute issues
that teens are concerned about and uses language that doesn't sound
preachy or stuffy. However it is also sponsored by the Teen to Teen
Sexuality Project at Rutgers University, so you can trust this site to
provide intelligent professional advice. Best Feature: This
site gives teens critical information in a format they can relate to
including comics and videos.
Teen Self Help
http://kidshealth.org/teen/
Part of the Kidshealth.org site, this site has lots of
good articles written for teens about health and mental health
issues. On a recent visit to the site, I found front page
articles on: "Pilates," "What to do if you get the
flu", and "I Think my Friend has an eating
disorder." I don't think that there is any teen issue that you
won't find on this site. Best Feature: The site is also
translated into Spanish.
Youth Smoking Prevention
http://www2.philipmorrisusa.com/en/prc/activities/downloadresources.asp?source=prc_brochureseries_global_nav
Smoking remains a serious problem for teens (1 in 5 say
that they have smoked in the past month) and this site provides parents
with information about how to tell if a child or teen is smoking, and
what to do about it. Besides the information on the site, you'll
also find pdf brochures that can be downloaded in both English and
Spanish. Best Features: The site has a special section
for parents who smoke. The site also takes a "broad view"
of raising non-smoking kids, including sections on teaching resiliency
and coping skills.
Web Safety
http://www.ikeepsafe.org/iksc_kids/
There are lots of sites that can help parents and kids
with Internet safety. This one has a curriculum based on
research from Harvard's Center on Media and Child Health in partnership
with several other universities. The site is particularly well done
with videos, interactive games, and an online books. Best
Features: This site has serious resources behind it, which means that
you can trust it to be up to date on the ever changing issues regarding
Internet safety. Software to help parents keep their teens safe on
MySpace.com is available in a Beta version.
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2009 Fundraiser Gala Enjoyed by All
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 Over 260 supporters gathered
at Houston Country Club for the Tourette Syndrome Association of Texas
gala, Unmasking the
Face of Tourette's, on Thursday, January 22, 2009.
Chairmen Jyl and
Keith Calcote and Honorary Chairmen Anne and Robin French
greeted guests in the New Orleans decorated Grand Ballroom, complete with
hanging greenery, candlelit chandeliers, Mardi Gras beads, and
gorgeous bright flowers - all accented with masks decorated
by children dealing with TS. Attendees enjoyed bidding on the
many auction items, including two miniature horses, a black lab puppy,
rare wines, Waterford crystal, Boehm porcelain, a week in the Cayman
Islands and a stay at a Santa Fe townhome, just to name a few.
Honorees were Andrea White, community leader,
author, and Houston's First Lady; and Joseph Jankovic, M.D., Professor of
Neurology and Director of the Baylor College of Medicine's Parkinson's
Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic. Ms. White spoke
eloquently on overcoming adversity, while Dr. Jankovic explained the
complicated neurology of Tourette's, providing new understanding of the
disorder.
The highlights of the evening, however, were
speakers 12 year old Cade
Calcote, son of Chairmen Jyl and Keith Calcote, and Joshua Perez, 12
year old son of Wendy and Dr. Richard Perez of San Antonio. Both
spoke with heart wrenching simplicity on the tremendous difficulty of
living with TS. The evening raised funds for awareness and direct
client services around the state, such as the TS Children's Camping
Weekend; medical services for the indigent; and advocacy, scholarships
and educational programs throughout Texas.
 
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I Am the Face of Tourette's
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 by Joshua Perez
Joshua gave the
following speech at the TSA of Texas Fundraising Gala held on January 22,
2009: Unmasking the Face of Tourette's.
Good Evening. My name is Joshua Perez. I am 12 years old
from San Antonio. I am the face of Tourette's. I was
diagnosed 3 years ago. Having Tourette's is very difficult every
minute of the day. People don't understand, they stare and make
nasty comments. Tourette Camp is very important to me. I can
tic and no one stares. I have friends from the support group that
go to camp with me. I make friends while I am there. 58 more
days until camp. Thank you very much for coming tonight and helping
Tourette of Texas. I am Joshua Perez, the face of Tourette's.
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How Tourette's Affects Kids
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 by Cade Calcote
Cade gave the
following speech at the TSA of Texas Fundraising Gala held on January 22,
2009: Unmasking the Face of Tourette's.
My
name is Cade Calcote. I'm 12 years old and I'm in 7th grade.
I have Tourette's syndrome. My Tourette's started when I was in 3rd
grade. I don't think I'll ever forget it. During my 3rd grade
Christmas party, I started rolling my eyes and couldn't stop so I got
really worried. I told my mom and she took me to the doctor.
Later I was diagnosed with Tourette's.
It all started with "tics." Tics are twitches and noises
like shoulder shrugs, eye rolling, coughing and squeaking that are
involuntary. As I got older my tics got worse. Tics may not
sound that bad, but when you do the same movements a hundred times, your
muscles start to hurt.
Tourette's is kind of like a package, but not the kind you want to get as
a gift. It comes with other things like OCD and anxiety.
Anxiety is worse for me than Tourette's. When my anxiety gets bad,
I get scared and can't function. OCD is "obsessive compulsive
disorder." OCD makes me obsessive about many things.
It's especially annoying when I see something new I want like a video game.
I obsess about getting it, and if I don't get it, I obsess more and more.
I've had a rough time in 7th grade, and I've missed a lot of school due
to Tourette's. I just changed to a new school and I'm doing much
better. I have already made new friends who are nice to me and understand
my problems.
I wanted to speak tonight because I want people to know how Tourette's
affects kids and what they have to go through. Thank you for
listening, and maybe one day we can find a cure for Tourette's.
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New Studies on Tourette's Syndrome Need Participants
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by Dr. Beth Belluscio
People
with Tourette's syndrome often describe that they are very sensitive to
many aspects of their environment. This can involve sensations
coming in through any or all of the five senses. In addition, many
people describe a funny, uncomfortable sensation in their body which
leads to the feeling that they want to tic. However, scientists
have not yet focused on the sensory system in people with TS. Many
questions need to be answered: Are people with TS able to detect
more sensory information? Are people with TS more aware of sensory
stimuli? Where does the funny feeling before a tic come from?
If this funny feeling could be stopped, would the tics stop too?
Dr.
Beth Belluscio, a Neurologist working with Dr. Mark Hallett at the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), has recently begun two trials to try
to answer some of these questions. She has an MD-PhD in
neurobiology, with prior work focused on understanding the way nerve
cells communicate and learn. She is now beginning to use that
background to understand more about how nerve cells and the brain work in
people with Tourette's syndrome. Dr. Belluscio believes that there
is much we do not understand about the importance of sensory input in
many features of TS. She is interested in meeting people living
with TS to better understand their experiences.
The
two new studies will take place on an outpatient basis in the Clinical
Center at the NIH campus in Bethesda. Both require participants to
be aged 18-65 and to have a diagnosis of Tourette syndrome. Travel
funds and compensation for time spent in the study are provided.
One of the studies focuses on determining the sensitivity of people with
TS to external stimuli. It tests the sense of smell and touch as
examples of input through the five senses. This study can be
completed in one day. The second study focuses on finding out where
the funny sensations that precede a tic come from. To try and
prevent these sensations, local anesthesia (like novocaine) will be
injected into a small area where the tic occurs. Participants will
be asked to report on their sensations before and after the anesthesia
and tics will be monitored to determine if they change following numbing
of the area. This study will require 4-5 days (although not
necessarily consecutively). In addition to these tests,
participants in both studies will be asked to fill out several
questionnaires to get a better sense of their entire experience of living
with TS. They will also have a neurological exam and a structured
interview regarding personality styles and mood.
Additional information about the studies is available through the NIH
website, www.clinicaltrials.gov, and using the keywords "Tourette" and
"sensory", or by depressing the control key and clicking on:
Tourette Syndrome Studies. People interested in volunteering to
take part in the studies can contact Dr. Belluscio at 301-402-3495 or belluscb@ninds.nih.gov. She will be able to describe the studies in more
detail, answer any questions about participation, and find out if
interested people qualify. She will then set up an initial
appointment to see her at the NIH, where informed consent will be
completed. She is hopeful that a better understanding of the
sensory aspect of TS will lead to better therapeutic approaches in the
future.
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New Theatrical Release: Phoebe in Wonderland
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 The national Tourette Syndrome
Association, Inc. would like to inform you of the theatrical release of Phoebe in Wonderland
on Friday, March 6. This fictional, highly creative story features
Elle Fanning as the title character, Phoebe, who has Tourette's syndrome.
Although TS is not the main focus of the film, the disorder plays an
important role in the character's development and impacts the people
around her. The movie opened last weekend in the following select cities:
Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston,
Washington, D.C., Seattle, Miami and Dallas.
The film is described by its creators as, "...a
fantastical tale of a little girl who won't - or can't - follow the
rules. Confounded by her clashes with the rule-obsessed world around her,
Phoebe seeks enlightenment from her unconventional drama teacher, even as
her brilliant but anguished mother looks to Phoebe herself for
inspiration."
Felicity Huffman and Bill Pullman star as
Phoebe's parents, Patricia Clarkson as Phoebe's drama teacher and
Campbell Scott as the school principal. The film's writer and
director, Daniel Barnz, used his filmmaking skills and artistic vision to
create an imaginative and compassionate story about a young girl living
with the disorder.
Following is a Q&A with Daniel Barnz:
Why
did you choose to give Phoebe Tourette Syndrome?
I wanted to make a film that was anti-conformist in spirit, and Tourette
Syndrome is a neurological disorder in which you are forced to break
rules. I was interested in how people think children with Tourette
Syndrome are choosing to act a certain way (i.e. why is this child acting
out?), and then learn that, in fact, there is no choice.
I've also been a long-time Oliver Sacks junkie,
and have always been blown away by how his descriptions of neurological
disorders become larger metaphors for life - they offer these amazing
prisms through which we can view human experience. I wanted to see if I
could do something similar in film - what happens to a character who is
forced to break rules in a rule-obsessed society?
How
do you think Phoebe having TS affected the story and the people around
her?
It's certainly a struggle for Phoebe and for her family, but I wanted to
emphasize equally the benefits of difference - how being different can
make you a stronger, better person. It's not just that it's okay to be
different, but you can actually derive strength from it. The other
characters sense this, and learn from Phoebe. Felicity's character, for
example, keeps butting up against the conformist pressures of academia
and motherhood. By seeing how her daughter grows and becomes stronger in
the face of adversity, she does too. Like many parents, she learns from
her child.
What
do you hope people will walk away from this film knowing about TS?
Most importantly, I hope people understand that Tourette Syndrome does
not define a person; it is a part - but not all - of a person. One of the
things the film tries to do is layer in the Tourette Syndrome as part of
Phoebe's overall coming-of age story, and this is not an easy thing to
do. Audiences are used to seeing films about neurological disorders in
which the disorder defines the whole of the narrative/character. In
Phoebe in Wonderland, it is a part of the story, a part of Phoebe, and I
hope audiences take away that there are no "Tourette Syndrome people"
- there are people who have Tourette Syndrome.
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TSA of Texas Annual Fund Drive
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 We invite you to be a part of the
TSA of Texas first Annual Fund Campaign where you can truly make a
difference in the lives of children and families struggling with the
challenges of Tourette's syndrome.
In this time of economic uncertainty, your
donations to us are more valuable than ever. Please consider a tax deductible
gift. No amount is too small - even $5.00 collected from a
number of people really adds up!
If you know others who
might consider a gift to TSA of Texas, please let us
know. We can send you copies of our Annual Fund drive
letter and reply cards along with envelopes and stamps so you can
mail them to your friends and family - even adding a personal
handwritten note if you wish. Or if you prefer, just
send us a list of names and addresses along with your name and connection
to TS and we'll do the writing and mailing for you! Please contact Cindy with
your request or to receive more information.
Click here to view a copy of
our Annual Fund Drive letter. Click here to view the Annual
Fund drive reply card you may include with your gift.
OUR
DEEP THANKS to all who have contributed so far:
Major
Underwriters:
Bronze Level:
Renee and John
Hawkins
Cynthia and David Balfour
Janet and Mark
Jacobs
Drs. Patricia and Ian Butler
Joyce and Ian Clark
Director's Circle:
Susan and Tom Cone
Shelley and Andrew
Ricks
Michael Conway
Hsing Fann
Platinum Level:
Jennifer Harnish
Barbara and Daryl
Brister
Irene and Charles Hart
Howard Jones
Gold Level:
Sheryl and Dr. Dov Kadmon
Elaine and Donald
Carlton
Tracy and Kevin Karschnik
Robert
Dunshie
Denise Lovshe/Craig Owen
Michele and Kent
Dyson
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Matcha
Laurie and Anthony
Farris
Dianne and Donnie Migl
Barbara Hays/Todd
Williams
Rhonda and Arthur Rodriguez
Carolyn and Frank
Jacobs
Cindy and Howard Sacks
Kate and Jon
Nogarede
Anne Marie and Abel Salazar
Debra and Rodney
Perrin
Margaret and Ronald Sass
Ione and Ron
Reder
Victoria Singley
Eloise and David
Roehrig
Vanderlyn and Michael Singley
George Vela/Bayou Forming,
Inc.
Gerard Slack
Dr. Dennis S.
Yaworski
Judy and Gary Smith
Katrina and Rodolfo Villarreal III
Silver
Level:
Avril Wakefield
Cheryl
Goad
Lynn and Randy Waldman
Maria
Martinez
Connie Williams
Diane and Arthur Mundt
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Support Group Spotlight: East Texas / Golden
Triangle
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 Those smiling faces you see
belong to some young members of the East Texas/Golden Triangle TS support
Group. Instead of a December meeting, leader Carrie Edwards
arranged a super fun outing for her families - a suite for the
Monster Jam Truck Show at Reliant Center on January 31st. Kids
and their families were treated to the show, pizza, drinks and
more!
The East Texas / Golden Triangle Tourette
Syndrome Support Group services a large portion of the state, including
the cities of Colmesneil, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange, Lufkin,
Nacogdoches, Diboll, Lumberton, Port Neches, Silsbee, Nederland,
Livingston and more! The group meets quarterly on Sunday
afternoons, rotating meeting locations between different cities.
Watch the TS web site for details on the next
meeting, Sunday, April 19th from 2-4 pm at Adventure Kingdom in
Lumberton. Adults will hold an open discussion on Tourette's
syndrome, while the kids have a chance to play and work on their social
skills! For more information, contact Carrie Edwards via phone at
409-837-2406 or via email at princess_ce76@hotmail.com.
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Save the Date for Tee-Off for Tourette
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 The 15th Tee-Off for
Tourette Charity Golf Event will be held Monday, October 19, 2009
at The Woodlands Country Club Arnold Palmer Signature Course. Pre-registered
and pre-paid golfers will receive 2 tickets to attend any single day at
the Champions Tour Administaff Small Business Classic, played on October
16-18, 2009 at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course. For
more information on the tournament, sponsorships, or to donate auction
items and door prizes, please contact Daryl or Barbara Brister,
Tee-Off for Tourette Chairpersons, at darbar4@comcast.net
or (281)-395-5392. And if you are interested in hotel
accommodations for Sunday, Oct. 18 or Monday, Oct. 19, at a discounted
rate, please let us know as soon as possible so we can ensure that enough
rooms will be reserved.
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"Bonne Nouvelle"
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Debi Aquino (an adult with TS) and
her husband Victor celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on December 3rd. Bailey Arnett
of
Pflugerville (age10) has had an excellent school year - she has made
all A's. Her favorite subjects are math and science and she is even
considering attending Harmony School for Science next year. Colton Bauer of Lakeway (age 12)
received an award for perfect attendance and "A" honor
roll. Amanda
Bosson
is in all the Pre AP and Gifted classes at her high
school. She has received straight As so far this year, and also
made the school soccer team. Cole Chavez of San Antonio made
the Honor Roll at his high school this past fall and he is on track
to do it again. He is also doing well in his Judo classes. Hunter Courts of Port Neches (age
12) and his sister Haleigh (age 13) recently performed in Tom
Sawyer. Ricky
Hodgson
of San Antonio finished his first semester of community college with
a 3.25 GPA. He has been invited to join the National Society of
Leadership and Success due to his GPA. He also began a full
time job working in McDonald's corporate office in
January. Isaac of San Marcos (age 11)
made straight As the first and second nine weeks of school. Sheryl Kadmon, Executive Director of
TSA of Texas, exhibited her LaMancha dairy goats at the Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo March 3-5. "Kyrie" took second place and
"Karma" placed third in their divisions. Yee haw! Ryne Nardecchia of Spring (age 13) was
ranked first of the Tenor 2s selected to the All Region Choir for NW
Houston intermediate schools (Region 9). He is also cast as
Mr. John Brooke in the upcoming musical Little Women at Applause
Theatre. Cooper
Pickle
of Paris (age 19) will graduate with his Associate's Degree in Applied
Science/Drafting this summer. He will have completed
his Associate's Degree in one year and will enroll at Texas A&M
University - Commerce next fall to complete his Bachelor of Applied
Arts and Science Degree in Drafting and Design. Cooper currently
works part-time for Harrison, Walker and Harper as a drafter and graphic
designer and he hopes to work there full-time upon completion of
his Bachelor's Degree. Cooper has also performed with
Encore, the top show choir/dance troupe for his college and even
received free products and endorsements from several skate shops due to
his skateboarding skills. Matt Plante was accepted into the
Army National Guard last year. He just finished his basic
training at Ft. Jackson and is now at Ft. Eustis completing his AIT
(Advanced Individual Training) to repair Apache helicopters. Michael Plante will receive his Masters
in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas on May
16th. He is still pursuing his Ph.D. Ray Reed of Houston suffered
a moderately severe onset of TS at 12 years old. Today he is a
successful Funeral Director and Embalmer with over 14 years of
experience in his field. Victor Antonio Salazar of San Antonio (age
11) made the "B" honor roll. His parents are very
proud of how hard he has worked and think he is the greatest. Laura Spencer of Port Neches is in her
high school production of Bye
Bye Birdie. Laura has also handled the transition to
high school really well with a 3.0 GPA for the first semester. Austin Ward of The Woodlands (age  9) won the 10 and Under Division Top Forward in a
recent roller hockey tournament. Even though this was Austin's
first tournament, he scored the first two goals of the championship game,
giving his team the momentum needed to win the game and first place in
the tournament. Ethan
Wilkins
of Benbrook (age 8) has made the honor roll ALL YEAR so
far. He's come a long way! Congratulations to
all of these hard working superstars!
Please send us
your "Bonne Nouvelle!" Has
your child received straight A's?
Recently graduated from college?
Are you, as a person with TS, successfully juggling home and
family? We would love to hear
about your "good news" for future issues. Or --
is there a topic or story you would like to see us cover in the
future? A question you have for
our Medical Advisory Board? Send
your question, story and/or pictures to TouretteTexas@aol.com.
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Physician Referral List
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TSA of Texas maintains a list of Texas physicians who are
experienced with TS. To receive a PRL for your area, please email TouretteTexas@aol.com
with your city location. We are
also seeking to expand our list, particularly in smaller cities, so if
you have a physician who does a great job dealing with TS, please email
us his or her contact information.
PHYSICIANS: if you are interested in learning more
about TS or being considered for our PRL, please contact Sheryl Kadmon,
Executive Director, at 281-238-8096 or 866-896-8484.
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How Can TSA of Texas Help You?
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TSA of Texas is here to assist families dealing with TS
throughout the state. We offer:
- EDUCATIONAL
PRESENTATIONS for physicians, school districts,
students, parents and the community.
- INFORMATION
DISSEMINATION via packets, brochures and
telephone conversations.
- LIBRARY of DVDs, videotapes and
books.
- REFERRAL to physicians, therapists,
community services, and state and county agencies.
- ADVOCACY through
assistance with ARDs, IEP, 504 or OHI classification.
- SUPPORT
GROUPS throughout the state.
- CHILDREN'S
WEEKEND camping
program "du Ballon Rouge."
- FAMILY
ACTIVITIES such as
baseball games, museum visits, swim parties, and more.
- SPECIAL
FUNDING sources
such as the Kenneth H. Davis Family Assistance Fund and Fund A
Need.
- ...and
much, much MORE!
Call TSA of Texas at 281-238-8096 (toll-free
1-866-894-8686) or email TouretteTexas@aol.com
for more information. If you have needs other than those listed
above, please let us know and we will do our best to help.
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How Can You Help TSA of Texas?
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TSA of Texas funds its services through private donations,
fundraising events and grant support.
We receive no state or federal funding. You can help TSA of Texas
and support Texas families dealing with TS by:
- ATTENDING our fundraising events
(e.g., our major Gala held each January and our Tee-Off
for Tourette in October)
- DONATING items or gift certificates for
Silent Auction at Gala or Tee-Off
- ORDERING a tribute card sent in honor of
someone's special event,
- CONTRIBUTING via cash, check or credit card to
our general fund or a support group of your choice,
- LINKING your Randall's Remarkable Card to
charity #2493, or
- REQUESTING a Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor bar
code to link to your Kroger Share card..
All donations are totally tax
deductible. Learn More>>
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