eds presentation

A tribute to my fellow zebras and spreading awareness : 

A tribute to my fellow zebras and spreading awareness By Vanessa Balter When you hear hoof beats think ZEBRA!!!

Some info about EDS : 

Some info about EDS There are several types of eds, the most common being hypermobile, classical, and vascular. EDS affects about 1/250,000 people There is NO cure, and no real treatment for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome The vascular type is the most deadly form of eds The connective tissue holding the joints together turns into a gum like structure instead of like a rubber band

Symptoms and Tests : 

Symptoms and Tests The most common symptoms of EDS are: joint laxity, subluxations, dislocating, stretchy skin, easy bruising, poor wound healing, organ rupture, and severe pain To Diagnose Vascular EDS there is a blood test and a skin biopsy, the other forms are harder to diagnose, they use a scale called the Beighton Scale to diagnose hypermobility.

The Beighton Scale : 

The Beighton Scale The scale goes up to 9 points In order to get a diagnosis you must get a score of 5 or higher Touching thumb to forearm for each hand you get 1 point Pulling pinky back past 90 degrees 1 point for each hand Hyper extending elbow past 180 degrees 1 point for each arm Hyper extending knees back past 180 degrees 1 point for each leg Touching your palms to the floor WITHOUT bending your knees.

In loving memory : 

In loving memory Steven Smith 5/8/79 - 3/12/03 Pam Windisch 11/9/61 - 10/7/09 J. Marlon Finley 3/31/54 - 1/18/2004 David Daniel Bowen III 3/21/82 - 7/8/96 James Early Barlow Jr 10/25/45 - 12/12/94 Josh Doss 7/14/70 - 1/30/98

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE : 

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE LOOK AT ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WHEN YOU FEEL ALONE IN THE WORLD I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!! YOU ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE YOU’VE HELPED ME KEEP GOING ON AND I AM HERE FOR YOU WE WILL NOT STOP FIGHTING UNTIL WE FIND A CURE!!!! STAY STRONG!!!!!

Slide 11: 

I wish I wish I could stand up and talk while going on a walk I wish I could brush my hair without having my shoulders flare I loved to mountain climb, but sadly long ago was my last time Living in a bed is so sad, just thinking about it makes me so mad. No one believes the pain, in my life there is only rain. “you look fine” people say, well don’t judge because im not OK constantly living life on the sideline, has really took a toll on my mind dislocating, scarring, sublixin this is all just so much to take in The pain is so bad I feel like crying, sometimes I feel like my hope is just dying no matter how old eds can have you sold why have you given me this body as my tent, is there any way I can put it up for rent? Already had depression, having eds certainly does not make it lessen. I wish I could live life as a “normal” college kid, feelings of helplessness are rid Oh eds the weight you bear is a ton, there is no time in life for fun Why did you have to come to me, leave me alone and let me be free One day free of pain, when maybe the sun could shine in my life, and no rain Just once I want to experience that day, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t pay To all of my eds friends, im always here for you with a shoulder to lend On days when you feel like throwing the towel in, im here for you through thick and through thin. A poem by Vanessa Balter

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING : 

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING REMEMBER YOU ARE NEVER ALONE YOU ARE ALL SO BEAUTIFUL TO ME LOVE ALWAYS AND FOREVER ~ your fellow zebra Vanessa Balter