The Central NM chapter of the Vasculitis Foundation was founded by Karla Kollasch and Joseph Carpenter when they attended the 2008 International Vasculitis Patient Symposium in Rochester, Minnesota. Both Karla and Joseph independently approached the VF leadership to suggest that we should have a chapter for our state.

Supporting the entire state seemed a bit daunting for a fledgling chapter, so we decided to focus initially on the central NM region. However, all vasculitis patients are welcome to consider participation in our chapter. All that is required is membership in the Vasculitis Foundation.

Karla is a Wegener's patient. She was diagnosed with Wegener's in 1984 at age 13, and has had it for going on 24 years. Karla has known periods of active disease and also remission, so she is very familiar with the 'been there, done that' mantra of many long time patients with vasculitis.

Joseph is a caregiver. His daughter, Meaghan, was diagnosed with Churg-Strauss Syndrome in March 2008 at age 15, on St. Patrick's Day. Joseph is a man on a mission to learn more about this condition, and thereby help his daughter not only survive this condition, but also lead a happy productive life.

The innaugural meeting of the CNMVF Chapter was held on August 28, 2008 with seven people in Karla's living room. We shared stories, and talked about ways to spread awareness of our chapter to doctors and patients during Vasculitis Awareness Week. It was a good beginning.

Since about November 2008, we have been holding monthly social/support meetings at various locations. See the Meetings page for more information.

If you are a vasculitis patient, a caregiver to a patient, or a loved one, we encourage you to visit the Vasculitis Foundation and join as a member. You will not regret the vast resources this will connect you to in terms of understanding and learning about improved treatments for vasculitis. The medical consultants can help your doctor to better serve you, and the body of other members can help support you through the toughest times. Nobody truly knows these diseases who has not lived them.