NEMT President Linda Allard featured at Arthritis Foundation fundraiser

Dec. 2, 2011 - PRLog -- WOOLWICH, MAINE: NEMT President Linda Allard was one of three keynote speakers Dec. 1 at the Arthritis Foundation's Commitment to a Cure Fundraiser in Richmond, Va.

Allard has been involved with arthritis fundraising and awareness for decades. As a small child, her son was diagnosed with a rare form of arthritis called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which significantly impacted his mobility and health from an early age.

Her son “looked very normal but was unable to use his hands to write, tie shoes or use scissors,” she said. “School was difficult and both my husband and I spent many hours in meetings trying to explain to teachers that sitting our son by himself in the corner to do his work was not good for his self-esteem, to other parents that it wasn’t contagious and their children couldn’t catch it, and to gym teachers who didn’t quite understand.”

Allard's experience with arthritis didn't end there. A few years later, her husband began to suffer from severe arthritis that affected his hands, elbows and toes, forcing him to sell his business and change his lifestyle.

Through medication and a treatment plan, my husband had nodules and pain but was still able to function,” she said. “We learned to deal with the days his legs didn’t work well but life kept on going and my husband found new employment options.”

But it didn't end there either. In August of this year, Allard received a phone call from her son while on a business trip. Her husband had suddenly become very ill; he couldn't walk and his mental state was altered.

It was septic arthritis, an often-fatal infection that attacked his shoulder and both of his knees.

After five surgeries and months in the intensive care ward and a rehabilitation home, Allard's husband is now able to walk short distances with a walker – a major victory for the family.

“A week ago I was able to bring my husband home after three months to what I now refer to as our 'new normal' life,” she said. “This is our life that now includes a walker and a wheelchair.  What many people don’t realize is what a person who has arthritis and isn’t mobile has to deal with.  I didn’t and I’m sure I’m not alone.  We pulled up our carpet, put bars in our bathroom, and replaced our toilets. We moved furniture, measured doorways, and checked the pathways through the house.  I could go on but the list was massive.”

Allard says she considers her family to be very fortunate, despite two decades of frequent hospital visits, medical bills, insurance difficulties, school and employment issues, discrimination and mobility challenges.

“I still consider myself lucky,” she told the crowd at the fundraising breakfast. “My son graduated from college, is engaged and is a teacher. My guess is that he will never sit a student in the corner because they have a physical modification. “My husband survived his illness and is here with us today. He can walk with a walker and continues in outpatient rehabilitation. We have been so fortunate to have good insurance and the support of family and friends. I truly realize that many people are not nearly as lucky as we have been and I am grateful for these resources every day.”

The Commitment to a Cure fundraising breakfast is one of the major annual events for the Arthritis Foundation's Mid-Atlantic Region.

The breakfast is a lead-in to the Arthritis Foundation's annual Jingle Bell Run, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Allard will lead NEMT's Richmond contingent as they participate in the run to help raise money for the Arthritis Foundation.

To donate to the Arthritis Foundation or to find a Jingle Bell Run in your community, visit www.arthritis.org.
_________________________

About Linda Allard
Linda Allard is president of New England Medical Transcription and has worked in the transcription industry since 1987 as a transcriptionist, editor, external auditor, account director, recruiter, human resources director, transcription professor and vice president of operations. As president, she oversees sales, marketing and operations at NEMT, managing approximately 200 employees and independent contractors.

About NEMT
NEMT is one of the nation's top providers of medical transcription and clinical documentation services and guarantees its accuracy and turnaround times. The company is a corporate member of AHDI, AHIMA and CDIA and has been recognized as an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company for the last five years. NEMT is an entirely US-based company with no offshoring. Contact Tara Courtland at 804-370-4597 or tcourtland@nemtinc.com for more information.

# # #

NEMT is one of the nation's top providers of medical transcription. With a workforce of over 200, NEMT guarantees a 98% accuracy rate. The company is a member of AHDI, AHIMA and CDIA and is an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company for five years running.