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The following fax will be sent later in the morning. Congratulations on your efforts. Thanks. nina FAX TO: Representative Jerry Costello We were thrilled when Bill Heitman told my husband and me that you intend to include his picture with a Dear Colleague letter. I was diagnosed with PD 12 years ago at age 45 and the progression is frightening. We have been to Washington to work to get funding for Parkinson’s research three years in a row. Last June, we left feeling optimistic, although with somewhat heavy hearts, full of frustration with the knowledge that if we had a hurricane or other natural disaster, our government would find the money to offer relief, but it isn’t considered a disaster that every nine minutes another person is diagnosed with this devastating, debilitating disease! With the estimated costs of Medicare, disability, lost wages, etc. to our country, we know there couldn’t be a more compassionate, more compelling, more economical way to spend our tax dollars. People with Parkinson’s become imprisoned in their own body, much like those with polio. With enough funding, polio was cured and the iron lung became a thing of the past. With enough funding, Parkinson’s can also become a thing of the past. In addition to myself, I know I speak for countless others who have already lost their ability to communicate, in thanking you for your efforts in working with your colleagues to get the funding intended for Parkinson's research used on actual Parkinson's research. Sincerely, Nina Brown William Heitman wrote: > In a message dated 9/20/99 7:17:00 PM Central Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] > writes: > > << A number of key > >Senators on > >the Appropriations Committee have weighed in with "Dear Colleague" > >letters > >supporting the PD community's goals, and there is a possibility of a > >Hearing > >on PD in the near future. >> > > More good news: Representative Jerry Costello has told me he intends to use > my picture (sitting in a pile of pill bottles, looking sorta dazed) for > inclusion with a dear colleague letter." His latest written communication > with us included the statement: > > "You can be assured I will work with my colleagues to get the funding > intended for Parkinson's research used on actual Parkinson's research. Like > you, I know that this disease can be cured!" > > This guy "gets it." He may be among our most recent group of Congressional > champions > > If anyone wants to thank him for this, his fax # is (202) 225-0285. > > His address: > 2454 Rayburn House Office Bldg. > Washington, DC 20515 > > Best > WHH 56/38/37