Hurricane Sandy volunteer Robert Burcham of Tennessee (right)
receives a Tysabri Infusion, which helps slow down the progression
of Multiple Sclerosis. He is joined by his care team at Winthrop
(l.-r.): Denise Cheng, RN; Eileen Boylan, RN; and Malcolm
Gottesman, MD, Chief of the Division of Neurology and Director
of The Winthrop Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care Center.
Volunteers have travelled from
across the country to assist with
Long Island relief efforts after
Hurricane Sandy. The Team at
the Winthrop Comprehensive
Multiple Sclerosis Care Center
was recently given the opportunity
to give back to one such
volunteer, 41-year-old Robert
Burcham of Tennessee.
Although Mr. Burcham suffers
from Multiple Sclerosis (MS),
he hasn’t let it stop him from
assisting victims of environmental
disasters across the country
over the years. Mr. Burcham is
an expert in his field – assessing
damage to roofs that are difficult
for most people to get to. When
Mr. Burcham had the opportunity
to come to New York to help with
Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, he didn’t
delay, even though that meant he would
be missing his Tysabri Infusion – a therapy
that he receives every 28 days to slow
down the progression of MS.
“When I left Tennessee, I was
already due for another treatment, but
I wanted to get out here to help, and
then I was so busy that I never made
time to take care of myself,” he said.
After spending a month in New
York helping others, Mr. Burcham called
The Winthrop Comprehensive Multiple
Sclerosis Care Center. Dr. Gottesman
and the Center’s Team worked to ensure
that Mr. Burcham could promptly
receive the necessary treatment.
“We were eager to do anything we
could to help Mr. Burcham,” said Denise
Cheng, RN, who was instrumental in
coordinating Mr. Burcham’s treatment.
“During the process, I was privileged to get
to know Mr. Burcham – he is a remarkable
man who lives his life to the fullest.”
“From the very first time I met Dr.
Gottesman, I felt confident that I was in
good hands,” Mr. Burcham said. After
receiving the infusion, Mr. Burcham was
immediately able to travel to his next
appointment assessing roof damage on
Long Island homes.
The Winthrop Compre hensive
Multiple Sclerosis Care Center
has been recognized by the
National MS Society since 2000
as a center for comprehensive
care, providing services that
address the varied and often complex
issues related to living with
MS. With a multidisciplinary
and humanistic approach to
treatment and care, the Center
offers a variety of services, including
clinically proven medication
therapies; an Onsite Infusion
Center; a referral network for
appropriate specialty services; and
support groups. The Center is
also involved in many ongoing
clinical research trials, including
participation in the New York
State MS Consortium since 1997.
For more information about The
Winthrop Comprehensive Multiple
Sclerosis Care Center, call 1-866-
WINTHROP.
|
Vol. 22, No. 3
Winter 2012
Back to Publications
|
