Page 20 - 2020 Spring CMTA Report

CMTA including: filing for disability/ADA rights, during September Awareness Month with the
hashtag #FightForAubriElla.
mobility adaptations/hand controls/Florida
h
licensing requirements, Medicare and health
BRANCH insurance, staying active with seated yoga LAS VEGAS, NV
Ten people came out for the Las Vegas
and a family fun bowling day.
Branch’s first meeting of the year on January
h
BOSTON, MA
18, led by Martha Boadt. Guest speaker Dave
NEWS The Boston Branch, led by Jill Ricci and Kovach, the owner of Evolve Prosthetics,
talked about the best orthotic and bracing
Mimi Works, had its first meeting of the year
options. His knowledge of CMT is amazing,
on January 8 with 15 people in attendance.
Members viewed the STAR research webinar, and he goes way beyond in making and
which explains the CMTA’s incredible ordering braces that are just right for each
individual.
ANTELOPE VALLEY, CA research projects. The webinar is available h
The Antelope Valley Branch, led by Donna on the CMTA’s website. The Findlay family NEW MEXICO
Murphy and Danielle Metzger, welcomed the presented a donation check to the Boston The New Mexico CMTA Branch, led by Gary
CMT Traveling Quilt to its first meeting of the CMTA Branch for their 2019 fundraiser held Shepard, met on February 8, with 15 in
year. Created by former Branch Leader Angela attendance. They welcomed guest speaker
Beaumont from Texas, the quilt has traveled to Kevin Matthews, an orthotist and brace
many CMTA branch meetings and events in designer from San Antonio with 37 years of
the last five years (see related story p. 9). experience working with clients who have
Branch leaders who would like a visit from the CMT, and watched a video he made about
quilt can email Los Angeles Branch Leader gaits and how they affect brace design
John Ramos at john.cmtalabranch@gmail.com. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz0JDHoHVJo).
The Los Angeles and Antelope Valley branches After the video Kevin answered questions via
are looking into the possibility of a joint meet- Skype from the audience. The group then
ing in August. discussed the successes and failures of vari-
ous types of braces. The bottom line was
that each person with CMT is different and
these differences can affect what type of
brace is appropriate. Some members have
different types of braces for different activi-
ties. In New Mexico, members particularly
like the Orthotics Department at Carrie Tin-
Antelope Valley gley Hospital and Advanced Prosthetics and
Orthotics, both in Albuquerque.
h h
TAMPA BAY AREA, FL ALBANY, NY
The Tampa Bay Area Branch, led by Sarah The newly named and revived Albany CMTA
Gentry and Ed Linde, had its first meeting of Branch gathered on February 22 for its first
2020 on February 15 with 15 attendees, both meeting of the year with 18 members in
new and familiar. The group worked on attendance. Branch leader Cara Leath wel-
branch plans for the year, including the comed everyone, shared her CMT story and
group’s 6th Annual Tampa Bay Walk 4 CMT, talked about why she wanted to start the
set for November 14. The group also dis- Boston branch. Many original members from the
cussed future meeting topics and speakers, Upstate NY Branch attended. Group mem-
bers brainstormed ideas for events and
meetings, including an orthotics show-and-
tell and watching CMTA webinars as a group.
h
WESTCHESTER, NY
The Westchester, NY Branch, led by Beverly
and Frank Wurzel, held its first meeting their
2020 on March 7 with 16 very enthusiastic
people sharing stories about the challenges
of living with CMT. An anesthesiologist in
attendance stressed that “Anyone with CMT
expecting to have surgery must let their
anesthesiologist know that they have a neu-
romuscular disease.” Group members also
had a discussion on how food affects health
and discussed plans for their 2020 CMTA
fundraiser, which will be held on October 25
at the Tarrytown Hilton, Tarrytown, NY.

Westchester

20 THE CMTA REPORT SPRING 2020