Support Groups and Additional Resources
Living with a chronic illness often presents special challenges that are difficult for even close family and friends to understand. For this reason, it is often helpful to get involved in a support group with others who share these special challenges. Talking about challenges and concerns brought on by chronic illness with these people can help you cope with your own chronic illness.
Additional resources and support groups:
Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Disorder
Asthma
Chronic Beryllium Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Fibrosis
Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections
Other Chronic Illnesses
Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)
National Jewish is a proud sponsor of the American Lung Association's Better Breathers Club. The Better Breathers Club is a support group dedicated to helping people learn to live better lives with asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases. Do you have questions about traveling with oxygen or pulmonary rehabilitation? If you live in Denver, Boulder, or Colorado Springs, get answers to all of your questions at one of the meeting locations below. If you live some place else, visit the American Lung Association's Website for Better Breathers Club locations across the country.
|
Denver
Rocky Mountain Better Breathers
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
|
3rd Thursday of the month,
2:30 to 4 pm
|
Sherri Michalias
(303) 398-1397
|
|
Denver
Alpha Beaters - The Alpha 1 Support Group
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
|
Meets quarterly. Contact Bill Dawkins for the next time and location.
|
Bill Dawkins
(720) 870-4204
|
|
Denver
Mile High Better Breathers
Virginia Village Library (Florida and Dahlia)
|
2nd Tuesday of the month,
1:30 to 3 pm
|
Virginia Carpenter
(303) 691-2791
|
|
Denver
Spalding Breathing Support Group
Spalding Hospital (900 Potomac Street - between 6th Avenue and Colfax)
|
1st Tuesday of the month,
10:00 to 11 am
|
Dolores Henn
(303) 364-3509
|
|
Denver
Catch Your Breath
Saint Joseph Hospital (1835 Franklin Street, 80218-1191)
|
3rd Thursday of the month,
11 to 12:30 pm
(potluch lunch)
|
Jodi O'Neill, RRT
(303) 837-7759
|
|
Denver (Wheat Ridge)
Living With Lung Disease
Exempla Rehabilitation Center Conference Room (9830 I-70 Frontage Road South, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033)
|
1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month,
1:00 to 2 pm
|
Brenda Crow
(303) 467-4122
|
|
Boulder / Longmont
Easy Breathers
Longmont United Hospital
|
2nd Friday of the month,
Noon to 1 pm
|
Barbara Jensen
(303) 772-3329
|
|
Colorado Springs
Better Breathers
Health and Learning Center (1644 Medical Center Point - Union and Fillmore)
|
3rd Tuesday of Feb., May, Aug., and Nov.,
1:30 to 3 pm
|
Patti Shelter
(719) 776-4717
|
|
Colorado Springs
Senior Center (1514 N. Hancock - Uintah and Hancock)
|
3rd Thursday of the month,
5:30 to 7 pm
(light dinner provided)
|
Elaine Wozniak
(719) 365-2223
|
|
Colorado Springs
Southern Colorado Pulmonary Hypertension Group
First Lutheran Church (1515 N Cascade - call for directions)
|
3rd Sunday of the month,
1:00 pm
|
Pat Patterson
phpatt@earthlink.net
(719) 637-1244
|
|
Grand Junction
Grand Junction Life Center (1100 Patterson Mt. Garfield Room, 2nd floor)
|
1st Wednesday of the month Sept through May,
1:30 to 3 pm
|
Candy with St. Mary's Pulmonary Rehabilitation Dept.
(970) 244-6056
|
|
Loveland
Better Breathers
Wellness Center at McKee Medical Center (attached to the hospital)
|
3rd Tuesday of Feb., May, rest of year TBA
|
Diane Lemon
(970) 635-4025
|
|
Pueblo
Better Breathers
AARP Office, The Pueblo Mall
|
3rd Tuesday of every month.
1 to 2:30 pm
|
Nanci Parkhurst or Lori Fossceco
(719) 584-4641
Jennifer Beasley
(719) 296-8800
|
Return to top.
Chronic Beryllium Disease
Consulting individually with a mental healthcare professional familiar with chronic illness, especially occupational illness, may help you as well. For more information,visit Psychological and Social Issues Related Chronic Illness, or the American Lung Association .
Return to top.
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) and Pulmonary Fibrosis
Resources:
Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis
The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization,founded in 2001 to further education, patient support and research efforts for pulmonary fibrosis, specifically idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for and raising awareness of Pulmonary Fibrosis, an often fatal lung disease. The Foundation is also devoted to improving the quality of life for those afflicted with this illness.
Return to top.
Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections
NTM Resources:
NTMinfo.com (Provided by NTMINFO & Research, Inc.) Provides information and support for people with Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections.
Support Group Locations and Contact Information:
| Los Angeles, CA |
Sharon Polack |
sharonp_01@cox.net |
| Sacramento, CA |
Doris Feenstra |
dfeenstra@sbcglobal.net |
| Sonoma / Marin, CA |
Anna Webster |
thewebsters2000@yahoo.com |
| South Bay Area, CA |
Missy Von Luehrte |
Missy_VonLuerhte@elcaminohospital.org |
| Albuquerque, NM |
Margaret Cost |
dreamcovers@msn.com |
| Denver, CO |
Jon Bernhard |
jonclimbs@yahoo.com |
| Denver, CO |
Beverly Mulholland |
rbcm@comcast.net |
| Dallas, TX |
Amy Cherrnay |
AMYGENE1@msn.com |
| Houston, TX |
Shirley (Kat) Jones |
kat5jones@yahoo.com |
| Houston, TX |
Mary (Kay) Bonham |
marybonham@sbcglobal.net |
| Minnesota |
Jean Ratchye |
jcratc@earthlink.net |
| St. Louis Area, MO |
Violette King |
vkmonitor@earthlink.net |
| Albany, NY |
Sandy Soloman |
sandysolom@aol.com |
| Boston, MA |
Carol LaMontagne |
Cargeoma@aol.com |
| Charlotte, NC |
Jean Gribbin |
jegrib50@aol.com |
| Cleveland, OH |
Sandra Littman |
sandryrae@worldnet.att.net |
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
(S. Florida) |
Jane Feetham |
feethamj@bellsouth.net |
| Greenville, SC |
Marcia Copeland |
gmc1@prtcnet.com |
| Greenville, SC |
Susan Harmon |
sudesco@aol.com |
Gulf Coast
(AL, FL, LA, MS) |
Sandra Seal |
sptch49@earthlink.net |
| Massachusetts, Western |
Sandy Soloman |
sandysolom@aol.com |
| Michigan, Southeast |
Marty Carr |
martycarr@comcast.net |
| Michigan, Southwest |
Joan Molitor |
jomol@sbcglobal.net |
| New York City Metro Area (NY, NJ, CT) |
Debbie Breslawsky |
breslaw1@gmail.com |
| New York City Metro Area (NY, NJ, CT) |
Patricia Frechtman |
goldengma@nvc.rr.com |
| New York City Metro Area (NY, NJ, CT) |
Betsy Glaeser |
eglaeser@nyc.rr.com |
| Philadelphia, PA |
Rochelle Mason |
rm6615@comcast.net |
| Sarasota, FL |
Mary Allyn |
MnoAllyn@aol.com |
| Tallahassee, FL |
Sherry Wiley |
sherryewiley@embarqmail.com |
| Tallahassee, FL |
Sally Mason |
bmason124@comcast.net |
| Tampa, FL |
Jean & Jeff Davis |
jeand@aceweb.com |
| Toronto, Canada |
Esther Steinberg |
E.Steinberg@sympatico.ca |
| Washington, D.C. |
Elaine Grossman |
ElaineinWX@aol.com |
| Washington, D.C. |
Dan Sagalan |
dsagalyn@verizon.net |
| Wilmington, DE |
Jolly Clarkson-Shorter |
JClarkson-Shorter@comcast.net |
| Denmark |
Gerd Jessen |
gerd.j@adslhome.dk |
Return to top.
Other Chronic Illnesses
Rafael Spiritual Healing Center is offering enrollment now for its support group
for people living with chronic illnesses. The group will commence in late July
and will consist of eight consecutive meetings at a cost of approximately $10
per session. The Center also offers ongoing support groups for those dealing
with grief, and groups specifically for caregivers.
Healing emotionally is like healing physically - you can’t do it without the help
of others. Rafael Spiritual Healing Center at Jewish Family Service of Colorado is
here to help.
To enroll or for more information, please contact:
Dr. Laura Hockman
Jewish Family Service of Colorado
3201 S. Tamarac Dr.
Denver, Colo. 80231
P: (303) 597-7777 x346
www.jewishfamilyservice.org
Return to top.
