GAMUNEX—making a difference
At Talecris, the maker of GAMUNEX, reaching a higher level of patient care is the motivation behind everything we do. Once a year, we sponsor Patient Day at our plant in North Carolina. We are actively involved with advocacy organizations and patient support groups to help improve the lives of people like those you'll meet here.
Gail Moore* with her children, Kinsey and Garret
Lakeland, Florida
As a child, I grew up in a household centered around sickness. My mother constantly battled illnesses that physicians could not explain. I now know she lived most of her life with primary immunodeficiency (PI) disease without ever being diagnosed.
When I became a mother, I started to recognize similar symptoms in both of my children as well as myself. My daughter Kinsey and my son Garret were very susceptible to infections. Kinsey, now 16, experienced bloodstream infections and Garret, now 14, suffered from recurrent sinus and lung infections. I always felt physically fatigued and seemed to catch everything that was going around. While my friends and my children's friends were healthy and strong, we were always at the doctor's office. I knew something was wrong.
Kinsey was 4 years old when she was diagnosed with dysgammaglobulinemia, a PI and rare blood disorder. I was diagnosed 5 years ago with common variable immune deficiency (CVID), and Garret was just diagnosed last year with dysgammaglobulinemia.
GAMUNEX, an IGIV therapy, has made a great difference in our lives. Now, I have a lot more energy and I'm hardly ever sick. Best of all, Kinsey and Garret went from missing nearly a month of school a year and numerous infections to good health and regular attendance at school. Both of my children are living healthy, happy lives and their condition has little to no impact on them. Garret is an avid guitarist and basketball player, while Kinsey enjoys gymnastics and a rigorous dance schedule. She has even traveled to France to study abroad!
As an advocate for the PI community, I travel all over the country to talk to groups about the disease and the importance of an open and trusting patient-doctor relationship.
GAMUNEX has given my family the ability to lead a more normal life. It has helped us to manage our PI so we can focus on the things we love to do.
*Gail Moore is a paid consultant to Talecris.
Manny Sperling
Cleveland, Ohio
As a child, I was healthy, allergy free, and had boundless energy. Years later, I suddenly began to acquire chronic sinus infections; I knew something wasn't right. My doctor prescribed various antibiotics, and while the infections might go away for a month or two, they'd soon return. Needless to say, I was really frustrated.
My doctor agreed my infections were uncommon and, after no luck with antibiotics, referred me to a specialist. The specialist did a sinus scan and he couldn't even see my sinuses. After several unsuccessful rounds of antibiotics, 3 hours of testing, and visits to another specialist and an allergist/immunologist, I was told I wasn't allergic to anything and additional testing was required.
Blood work finally revealed that I had common variable immune deficiency (CVID), the most prevalent primary immunodeficiency (PI) disorder. My condition made me more susceptible to infections, but my doctors quickly reassured me that regular IGIV therapy would help protect me. What a relief! In less than a month, I went in for my first IGIV infusion. My doctors were fantastic–they explained everything to me and walked me through the entire process.
Since my diagnosis, my family and I have attended primary immunodeficiency patient events such as picnics and Patient Days so we could meet other patients and learn as much as possible about the disease. No one else in my family has PI, so it was important to me that everyone in my family understood what was happening and felt comfortable with my need to take IGIV therapy.
Because of GAMUNEX, I have been able to continue my career as a professional magician. I love to entertain and make people laugh. Thanks to Talecris, I have also had the opportunity to perform at Immune Deficiency Foundation summer picnics and at the Triangle United Way's 2007 "Old Reliable Run." I thoroughly enjoyed entertaining at these events because I got to interact with doctors and other patients.