2nd International Angioma Alliance UK Forum

Saturday June 7, 2008, was for many of us UK members the high point of the year. The board and I had spent twelve months lining-up speakers, having meetings, arranging hotel accommodations, having meetings, visiting venues, having meetings, competing for that most unfortunate of things, money, having meetings, ensuring members were informed about the event - the 2nd International Angioma Alliance UK Forum - and having meetings. The only thing it seems we did not have a meeting about was the weather - and there seemed little we could do about that (although I seem to remember hearing something a few years ago on the radio about Paul McCartney and dry ice attempting to change the climate before a concert in Russia).

Finally the weekend that we had been planning for so long arrived. Angioma Alliance UK had asked four speakers to present. And they were all there, bang on time, and, considering their eminence in the field, this in itself was a remarkable achievement. Dr. Connie Lee of our parent organisation the Angioma Alliance spoke first on Coping with Cavernoma. Mr Neil Kitchen, consultant neurosurgeon at the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, spoke on cavernoma surgery and resisting temptation. From the United States came the keynote speaker Professor Issam Awad updating us on cavernoma research. Mr. Ian Sabin, consultant neurosurgeon, at Barts and the London NHS, spoke on Gamma Knife Surgery and Perfexion, the latest in gamma knife technology for brain lesions. At its height, the Forum attracted 100 people. The afternoon was dedicated to small informal group discussions including a group for carers.

Ian Stuart