Everyone at the SADS Foundation extends our most genuine appreciation to everyone who has given during 2015! Every donation matters and lets us know that you value what we do to support families and save young lives of individuals with SADS conditions.

 

The SADS Foundation, with our partners, has made remarkable accomplishments since we began in 1991, and we will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary starting in 2016. We are looking ahead to increasing the influence of the SADS Foundation Speakers Bureau, expanding the Pedigree Project, furthering the development of the SADS Ambassadors program, and launching a signature awareness and fundraising event: Take Steps to Stop SADS. We will continue to make an even larger difference as we remain the preeminent non-profit organization in the SADS community.

If you have not given a year-end gift already, please take the opportunity to donate right now to help the SADS Foundation as we celebrate the first 25 years and plan for the next 25 years. For information, please contact Jan at 801-531-0937 or [email protected]. Take steps to stop SADS!

A special thank you goes to the following major sponsors who helped to make this year the most profitable one to date: ABM Commercial Flooring, Inc - Albert Lucenti, Recchia Racing - Mike Recchia, McWebb Packaging - Michele Recchia, Abbate Screw Products, Inc - Larry Abbate, Tracy's Bistro - Tim Axarides.

Check out the  Brittany's Trees Facebook page for  pictures from this year's event.

" I discovered the SADS Foundation after working in public service and higher education for almost 25 years. Instantly recognizing the impact and importance of the SADS Foundation I was eager to join the team. Luckily, I received the opportunity of a lifetime and am now responsible for Medical Education and Operations. I am so fortunate to be a part of the SADS Foundation and eager to continue the good work of assisting individuals and families who are afflicted by heart arrhythmia abnormalities. 

I am an avid supporter of the University of Utah (Go Utes!) which is where I earned my undergraduate degrees, history and political science, and my Master of Public Administration degree. My wife and I live in a small suburb within the Salt Lake Metropolitan area. We have three sons, whom we're honored to be known as their parents, and a small dog named Teddy. I greatly enjoy architecture, urban design, tinkering on cars, politics, and researching historical and popular culture subjects."

For Medical Advice...

One of our SADS members with LQTS called with concerns about a drug that had been prescribed to him by his surgeon. He was in quite a bit of pain, but he checked and saw that the prescribed drug was on the Drugs to Avoid list for LQTS. He called us for advice, and our CEO Alice Lara emailed the SADS Network of Scientific Advisors. Within hours, responses came in from both national and international experts on LQTS. The recommendations were passed along to our SADS family member, who was grateful for the help. We are thankful for our knowledgeable and supportive network of Scientific Advisors!

...and for Outreach to potential SADS Families

Thanks to a recent tip to SADS Staff from a family member, we were alerted to the sudden death of a healthy young man in Florida. Because SADS Staff have attended meetings of the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) for the last seven years, we had the contact information for the local Medical Examiner. In addition to contacting the ME, we notified a local SADS Referral Physician who was available to answer questions, we contacted the media regarding a follow-up story about SADS conditions, and we sent a message to the family in order to provide support for them and answer any questions. Unfortunately, the first indication of SADS conditions for many families is an unexpected death. We know this is an important opportunity to save the lives of at-risk family members, which is why we have our Sudden Death Response Plan. 

What can you do?

If you hear of a death or if you see an obituary of a sudden death in a young person that seems to fit the profile of a SADS condition, please send the information to [email protected] or call 1-800-STOP-SAD.