A message to all members of It's Just Benign

This has been a very successful year for It’s Just Benign, and there are now over 600 members on the IJB site! That means that there are 600 members who can offer support, advice, and encouragement to each other, and 600 experiences from which to learn.

Perhaps you have noted that some changes have been made to the It’s Just Benign website, and several new tabs and groups have been added. These include Benign Brain Tumor Medical News and Benign Brain Tumor News. In addition, brain tumor camp information is now available. While video games were added for the children to play, they can also help survivor's focus and to train your eyes after surgery!

It’s Just Benign now has a logo and a brochure. Should you want a copy (or copies) of the brochure, they can be printed from the IJB home page. There are daily updates about IJB on Twitter (@ItsJustBenign), and our Facebook page is also developing a following.

I continue my mission to educate the public about the life-threatening and devastating effects of benign brain tumors. This year I was invited at Robert Wood University Hospital and Monmouth Medical Center to speak about my personal experience as a brain tumor survivor and how It’s Just Benignevolved from that experience. 

I am still filling positions on the Board of Directors of IJB, and you can read the current Directors’ biographies on our website. Kevin Sperber, MD, is Vice Chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of the North Bronx (NY) Healthcare Network. He specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation as well as pain management and palliative care. I feel especially indebted to Dr. Sperber who gave me back my life and dignity by coming up with an effective plan to manage the paralyzing trigeminal neuralgia pain from which I suffered for many years. Trigeminal neuralgia resulted from my brain tumor treatment. Another Board member is Shabbar Danish, MD, the Director of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (New Brunswick, New Jersey). It’s Just Benign still needs more members on the Board. They do not need to be medical professionals. If you would like to recommend someone to serve on the Board, or if you would like to serve on the Board, please contact me through the IJB website.

While It’s Just Benign continues to move forward, financial help is needed.
We have started a “sponsor program” for both the local Central New Jersey in-person support group and for the website. The sponsor program basically involves tax-deductible advertising. You can read about it on our website under “About IJB”. Should you know of any companies that would like new business and might want to serve as sponsors, please let me know.

Although a number of you have made donations, it does not cover the cost of IJB's expenses. The website monthly fees have increased, the webmaster needs to be paid, etc. To pay for these expenses and to keep It's Just Benign a self-sustaining nonprofit, a vote to require a $10 annual dues was voted on and approved. Those of you who donated in 2011 are not required to pay the dues for 2012. For everyone else, dues need to be paid by Febuary 1st, 2012. They can be paid by Paypal or by sending me a check, addressed to It's Just Benign   203 Prestwick Way  Edison, NJ 08820. Please let me know if you are having financial difficulties and perhaps the fee can be waived. I hope that you understand and you'll stay a member of It's Just Benign.

I believe that is everything. I hope that you have a very happy and healthy holiday season.

Sincerely,

Beth Rosenthal

It’s Just Benign

Survivor & Founder

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