Renowned Transplant Surgeon Robert Love and Former Minnesota Timberwolves and Marquette University Basketball Coach Present at "Living with PF" Patient Event in Lisle Nov. 14th
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CHICAGO, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An unlikely pair of experts -- a transplant surgeon and a former pro and college basketball coach -- will be speaking to patients suffering from pulmonary fibrosis (PF) on Saturday in Lisle. The terminal lung disease threatened the life of the former coach until the surgeon saved his life with a lung transplant.
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Former assistant coach for the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves and Marquette University men's basketball team, Trey Schwab will speak, along with his transplant surgeon, Robert Love, M.D. from Loyola University Medical Center, at the "Living with PF" patient seminar on Saturday, November 14th at the Wyndham Lisle Chicago Hotel in Lisle, Illinois.
"Trey is a walking miracle. With fewer than 500 people a year surviving the terminal lung disease via lung transplantation, His success story is one of great good fortune and a testament to the wonderful skills of his doctor," said Mishka Michon, CEO of the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF), the non-profit organization hosting the event. "There are about 39,500 other patients lost each year that we'd like to see saved, but there aren't enough lungs available and most of our patients don't fit the criteria for transplant. However we get there, we want to see thousands more like Trey survive this disease."
Few diseases claim as many lives as PF. Breast cancer claims the same number, and is well-known and well-funded, while PF remains largely unknown. With a burgeoning awareness of PF in Congress, there is also a growing recognition of its ferocity in the public. There is no FDA approved treatment and no cure for PF, a disease that causes progressive and relentless scarring in the lungs, resulting in severe shortness of breath and eventually death for most patients.
The event kicks off at 10:00 a.m. and runs through 3:30 p.m. Schwab will speak at 11 a.m. followed by Dr. Love at 11:20 a.m. Other top PF physicians and researchers will also be speaking at the event, including Imre Noth, M.D., of University of Chicago Medical Center and Keith Meyer, M.D., of University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison.
"I am so fortunate to be able to speak at this event to inform and inspire others who are facing the death sentence I faced," said Trey Schwab, who is now an outreach coordinator for the transplant program at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. Schwab received his lung transplant at UW Hospital, under the care of Drs. Meyer and Love. Schwab received his lung transplant at UW Health where Dr. Love directed the Thoracic Transplant Program from 1992-2006. Dr. Love moved to Loyola University in Chicago and now directs the Lung and Heart/Lung Programs at Loyola University Medical Center.
The CPF is partnering with University of Chicago Medical Center, Loyola University Medical Center, UW Health and Edward Hospital for the event that will be attended by about 200 patients and family members. The event is made possible by a generous grant from Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
About Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF)
Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) is a lung disorder characterized by a progressive scarring - known as fibrosis -- and deterioration of the lungs, which slowly robs its victims of their ability to breathe. Approximately 128,000 Americans suffer from PF, and there is currently no known cause or cure. An estimated 48,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. PF is difficult to diagnose and an estimated two-thirds of patients die within five years of diagnosis. Sometimes PF can be linked to a particular cause, such as certain environmental exposures, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, residual infection, or autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis. However, in many instances, no known cause can be established. When this is the case, it is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
About the CPF
The CPF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2001 to accelerate research efforts leading to a cure for pulmonary fibrosis (PF), while educating, supporting, and advocating for the community of patients, families, and medical professionals fighting this disease. The CPF funds promising research into new approaches to treat and cure PF; provides patients and families with comprehensive education materials, resources, and hope; serves as a voice for national advocacy of PF issues; and works to improve awareness of PF in the medical community as well as the general public. The CPF's nonprofit partners include many of the most respected medical centers and healthcare organizations in the U.S. With more than 19,000 members nationwide, the CPF is the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated to advocating for those with PF. For more information please visit www.coalitionforpf.org or call (888) 222-8541.
SOURCE Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis
