Health Activist Video Stars
Through personal experience and self-education, Health Activists stand out from the pack of online health users. By collecting that information and sharing that knowledge, they truly become leaders. Now they are some of the most important voices in the online health space. Get the inside scoop on the stars of WEGOHealth.tv and learn more about their dedication to health communities:
Matt Ellefson
CONNECT
Matt Ellefson was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer on December 31, 2009 and was given eight months to live. Life as he knew it changed forever. Through his strong faith in God, Matt quickly realized that this change wasn't the end, but a new beginning. Today he lives a very active and abundant life with his wife and five children in Sioux Falls, SD. Matt loves life and remains focused on what is most important to him- his strong faith in God, his family and friends, and helping others affected by cancer.
Lisa Emrich
, Multiple SclerosisLisa Emrich is a musician living with multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. She uses her award-winning blog, BrassandIvory.org, to help patients face the day to day challenges brought on by chronic illness. Lisa is a Patient Expert on HealthCentral.com and can be found running the “Carnival of MS Bloggers.”
Susan Gamble
Susan Gamble was diagnosed with NSCLC adenocarcinoma lung cancer, at age 51. After 4 years of diagnoses of bronchitis, pneumonia, acid reflux disease, asthma and arthritis she went to an emergency room when pain, vomiting and breathlessness became unbearable. As a never smoker her doctors had not considered this diagnosis. Her cancer was at stage 4. After undergoing 4 rounds of infusion chemotherapy with poor results, she was genetically tested and found to have the ALK translocation and the drug targeted for this driver of her cancer, has been very effective. Although not a cure, it has given her more time. To make the most of this time she is active on the LUNGevity Foundation, Lung Cancer Support Community, blogs and is active on Twitter and Facebook to take every opportunity to share the need for early detection, research for effective treatment and advocate for all lung cancer survivors.
Ronnie Gregory
, DiabetesRonnie has been a type 2 diabetic for over 14 years now and manages his diabetes with diet,exercise and Insulin. He is an active participant in the diabetic online community and a diabetes health advocate.
Amy Gurowitz
, Multiple SclerosisAmy Gurowitz is a patient advocate and the voice of MS. In addition to her personal blog and writings for Health Central, Amy hosts a radio show that interviews individuals who are making a difference in the MS world. Amy founded MS SoftServe, a non- profit learning site, that aims to offer individualized learning for every person living with this disease.
WATCH VIDEOS
- How do you decide to use an assistive device?
- M.S. Assistive Devices: Deciding on a Device
- M.S. Assistive Devices: Extraodinary Feats
- M.S. Assistive Devices: Fighting Self Consciousness
- Welcome to WEGOHealth.tv
- Multiple Sclerosis: Medication Side Effects
- Prescription Decisions With M.S.
- Mobile Apps for Health Activists
- iBGStar Review
Laura Haddad
CONNECT
Laura is 20 years old from London and was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma during her first year at her university. It took her a while to get to the doctors because the symptoms were so vague she was convinced that she just had 'fresher's flu' or wasn't looking after herself properly. Her tumour was the size of a rugby ball and was crushing her heart and left lung. After 6 months of chemotherapy her consultant did a PET scan which revealed a second tumour inside her lung, a biopsy diagnosed it as diffuse large B cell non Hodgkin's Lymphoma - She is such a rarity that her doctors had no literature about other patients suffering from both types of lymphoma at the same time. After another 6 months of chemo to treat both cancers followed by an autograft stem cell transplant, she is in full remission and loving life!
Caroline Hall
, Joint PainCONNECT
Caroline Hall is a non-practicing librarian who spends a wealth of time online researching knee issues and joint replacement. After seven knee surgeries, three of which were knee replacements prompted by severe arthritis, she feels she can help others by using her personal vast experience. Caroline is married, lives in Connecticut, and hopes she hasn't passed on her knee issues to her three sons.
Karen Humphrey
, Healthy LivingCONNECT
Karen Humphrey has been cooking and writing in British Columbia, Canada as long as she can remember. Author of Notes From the Cookie Jar and Chasing Tomatoes, Karen shows that cooking fresh food from scratch can be easy, delicious, and how fun it really is to get your kids involved. When famous British chef Jamie Oliver began his Food Revolution in the USA, Karen challenged him to get involved with the blogging and Twitter communities and to support his cause, founded Food Revolution Fridays. With a perpetually hungry teenager and 19 years of experience working in public schools with special needs children, Karen knows school food on a first hand basis. In the summer you can often find the Humphrey family road tripping for weeks at a time through the USA Food Revolution style, sometimes with hilarious results.
WATCH VIDEOS
Jamie Inman
, Breast CancerJamie is a Licensed Psychotherapist and a professional motivational speaker. A two-time breast cancer survivor, Jamie founded StayinthePink.com TheGivingRibbon.org, sites devoted to providing support and resources to those facing breast cancer.
Scott Johnson
, DiabetesScott Johnson of ScottsDiabetes.com has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years. An active member of the Diabetes Online Community, Scott encourages and empowers others by sharing his successes with diabetes, his struggles with diabetes, and everything in between.