By Chris and DeAnn Huxman In 2001, our second son, Tyler, was born with ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting (EEC) syndrome. We had never heard of EEC, had no information about it, and had no idea what the future would hold. We didn’t know where to turn or where to find information. While searching the web for anything about EEC,…
Dear NFED volunteers,
We can’t think of a lovelier way to acknowledge all of the hard work you do than by setting aside the month of April to recognize and thank you and all of our volunteers. Just last year alone we had 364 volunteers who dedicated more than 3,652 hours to the NFED. That is truly amazing! …
Need to be Needed? Beverly Meier's Response?
By Cathy Deters The year I retired from a teaching career (2008), I knew I would need to do something to occupy the time I had spent in the classroom. There was a void in my life and I wasn’t sure how to fill it. My dear friend, Beverly Meier, suggested that I volunteer for…
The NFED Doesn't Need You!
Who needs volunteers? Not the NFED. We can do without volunteers! No need to ask for a helping hand, our staff can do it all. Why create a strong Volunteer base? Volunteers are overrated, a nuisance, and a royal pain. Today is a celebration of mischief and misbehavior. It has become tradition on the first…
Who Could Say "No" to Mary Kaye Richter?
By John A. Stith, M.D. , Professor, Pediatric Otolaryngology Saint Louis University School of Medicine, NFED Board of Directors and Patient Care Council I have been privileged to serve the NFED as a member of the board of directors for several years. It seems like yesterday when Dr. Tim Reichert invited me to consider becoming…
A Tribute to our Scientific Advisory Council
Every once in a while it is important to sit back and reflect on how blessed we are to have such wonderful professional commitment to our organization and the families we serve. The Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) and Patient Care Council (PCC) are two examples of professional dedication to the NFED. The PCC focus is…
My Life’s Calling!
By Sarah Tevis Poteet, D.D.S., P.A. NFED Board of Director member since 2003 & Patient Care Council member I grew up as part of the NFED family as an affected individual that was missing some teeth. I was a part of an implant clinical trial at the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research as…
Two Questions… How will you answer?
By Mario Adamo from Zurich, Switzerland Family Conference Volunteer in Columbus, Ohio Do you remember the movie “The Bucket List”? There were those two individuals, both condemned by cancer, sitting above a pyramid, talking about ancient beliefs. For every soul knocking on paradise’s door, the Gods held two questions: “Did you find joy in your…