Our groups are led by trained volunteers, all of whom are graduates of our course and CFS or fibromyalgia patients. They are (listed alphabetically):
Ann Busby
Ann is an FM patient from Florida. Before taking disability retirement in 2007, she worked for civil service for 26 years, specializing in training and education. She also taught elementary school for 7 years. She was diagnosed with FM in 2001 and has been with us since 2007.
Beatrice Desper
Beatrice, an American who has lived in Paris for more than a decade, has been a CFS patient for 20 years. While still in the US, she co-led an in-person CFS support group. In France, she has taught English as a second language for eight years. She has been part of our program since 1999.
Kathy Gamble
Kathy is a fibromyalgia patient from Florida, who works full-time in nursing administration. Her article on learning to live well with fibromyalgia is part of our Success Stories series. She has been a part of our program since 2001.
Elena Rosen
Elena Rosen is a CFS patient from Vermont, who became ill in 2004. She has experienced significant improvement since joining us in 2008 and has been a great asset to the many groups in which she has participated.
Paula Roth
Paula is a fibromyalgia patient from Ohio, who retired from a career in education that included secondary teaching and pre-school to grade 12 curriculum consulting, grant writing and professional development. She says she has had "the deluxe version of FMS" since about 1997. She joined our program in 2005.
Dorothy Schwartz
Dorothy is a fibromyalgia patient now living in Florida. Prior to being diagnosed in 1993, Dorothy was a teacher and held various positions in the corporate world. Now retired due to FMS symptoms, Dorothy has taken courses on teaching meditation and has led several different types of self-help groups. She has been with us since 2002.
Sharyn Smith
Sharyn is a fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain (CMP) syndrome patient from Oregon. Her CMP was diagnosed in 1995, her fibromyalgia in 2000. She took early retirement from the college teaching of computer applications in 2006, but continues to teach on a part-time basis. She joined us in 2004.
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