Last April, Bob Feltzin lost his courageous battle against multiple myeloma. Going back to Boca Raton this year was a decision made in part because of the Feltzin family's strong connection to the local myeloma community. The weekend had been sold out for over a month, and our team arrived at the hotel prepared for the busy weekend ahead.
We invited Cindy Feltzin and her family to join us during the Friday night dinner, to honor their commitment and accomplishments, and to present Cindy with the first annual Bob Feltzin Award for Outstanding Service to the myeloma community. When Susie Novis announced that the Feltzin family had once again committed $10,000, and that we had already received an additional $11,000 in support for myeloma research, the crowd responded again in kind. We received almost $54,000 in support for myeloma research, exceeding last year's grand total by nearly $14,000!
Cindy came forward to accept the award, and against a backdrop of photographs supplied by her children, gave an elegant reprise of Bob's always-upbeat life with myeloma, and joint work with Cindy to educate and help the myeloma community in every way possible.
Saturday at the Patient & Family Seminar was a great day with a huge turnout. We will definitely need a bigger room next year to fit everybody in! Dr. Asher Chanan Khan led off, followed by Dr. Ken Anderson, who gave a wonderful overview of myeloma research and the status of new drug development. After a flood of questions, Dr. Anderson had to rush off to join the Kraft family in Indianapolis for the Superbowl. Ken holds the Kraft Chair at Harvard and the Patriots owner was obviously quite keen to see if his team would win the Superbowl!
The patient and family seminar in Boca was truly an outstanding event.
I am very sad to have missed this conference, I attended last year after I was Dx'd with SMM and I found it wonderful.
I had my STC in Tampa inb Dec 2011 and by the time I had come out of hospital the event was already sold out. I am hoping to attend next year.
Please please book a bigger room or venue as it is very hard to get tickets due to the size limitations.
I am 43 years old and it looks like my myeloma has turned very resitant so I was very sad at not being able to attend and ask the experts some questions.
Michelle - we are certainly looking for a larger venue for the next time we come to Florida. In the meantime, did you know that we filmed this entire seminar? Contact the IMF at 800-452-2873 to request a DVD of the seminar, and we'll put you on the list to receive one as soon as it becomes available!
I heard about the conference late, also. I was told to come for the Friday sessions. When I arrived the staff quickly made arrangements for a room for my wife and myself. We were able to participate both days. We were made to feel welcome and received so much information and support. We are looking forward to next year's conference.