As well as having a very affordable registration cost for members and non members, the symposium had some very significant speakers. The first speaker of the day was Dr. C. Yaffe, whose topic was "Surgery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease". Grant Mitchell, an ostomate, was invited by Dr. Yaffe to share his experiences with the group. Grant, a very dedicated sports & running enthusiast, certainly was a great example of "Living life to the fullest" as he spoke about his life and thoughts before and following surgery. Other guest speakers were as follows:
We enjoyed sharing information and conversation with The Manitoba Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association who had a table beside us.
(WOA President Lorrie Pismenny and Dr. Clifford Yaffe at the CCFC Symposium on November 14, Photo by Rosemary Gaffray.)
Thanks go out to the WOA volunteers who dressed in purple t-shirts and manned the information booth for two hours at a time; speaking to interested registrants; and handing out our information packets and swizzle sticks. Volunteers were as follows: Jan Dowswell & Bonnie Robertson; Barry & Grace Cox; Marvin & Margaret Eyolfson.
Other attendees: Rosemary Gaffray, Cathy Zitzelsberger, Lorrie Pismenny
We had the pleasure during the day to mingle and talk with Terri Carter, Treasurer, of the Sleeping Giant Ostomy Group who had travelled from Thunder Bay, Ontario to attend the symposium. Here's hoping that our paths will cross again.
It was a great experience and we hope to do it again next year.
Submitted by Lorrie Pismenny
