Congressman Frank Wolf To Headline Lyme Awareness Program On May 5th

April 15, 2011

Our Savior’s Way Lutheran Church welcomes the Loudoun community to a Lyme Disease Awareness program on Thursday, May 5, 2011 from 7:00 – 9:30 PM. Congressman Frank Wolf, the co-sponsor of legislation to expand efforts for the prevention, education, treatment and research of Lyme disease, will open the program featuring a special showing of the award-winning documentary Under Our Skin. Local expert Samuel Shor, MD, FACP, a member of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell ‘s Lyme Disease Task Force will present information and answer questions.
“We live in tick country, and everyone should know about this disease and the symptoms which can be disguised as other illnesses,” says Marie Pfancuff, RN, BSN, of the sponsoring Parish Nurse Program at Our Savior’s Way.  Rev. Ralph Wiechmann, a pastor at the church who has undergone treatment for Lyme, noted: “I was fortunate since I had the rash and found a specialist who understood Lyme disease and the treatment.”

Kathy Meyer, another Virginia Lyme Task Force member said, “It’s critical to learn what Lyme Disease can look like in later stages.  Many people, too often children, never see the tick or notice a rash.  Later on, when they become ill, doctors may not think of Lyme, or tests may be misleading.  The CDC intends the tests be used for tracking of the disease, not for diagnosis.  Further, many doctors don’t realize that the tests alone can’t be relied on to determine Lyme Disease.”  Meyer will join Dr. Shor, the Parish Nurse Ministry, and representatives of the National Capital Lyme Disease Association to answer questions and provide reference information.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 200,000 people may be infected with Lyme disease annually.  Given the descriptive nature of the movie we ask that only adults attend.  Details are available at:  http://oswlc.org/events/lyme .

May is Lyme Awareness Month and Loudoun County residents are encouraged to attend this and other Lyme awareness events including the 5k/1M/Family Day Lyme event at the National Conference Center in Leesburg later in the month.

Our Savior’s Way, along with the Open Arms Christian Child Development Center, has provided a caring atmosphere for children and families in the Ashburn area for over 10 years. Open Arms is available to children from 6 weeks to 12 years old and offers preschool, full daycare, after-school programs, and summer camp. They are located at the intersection of Waxpool Road and Claiborne Parkway (1 mile south of Exit 5 of the Greenway).

For Church and Open Arms Information: http://www.oswlc.org
Contact: Marie Pfancuff (Parishnursing@oswlc.org) Phone: 703-858-9254