3rd Annual Knuckleball to Feature The Joe Niekro Humanitarian Award

The 3rd Annual Knuckle Ball…A Ptich for Life is jus around the corner.  With this year’s event fast approaching, there’s one man who will surely be in the crowd, Mr. J. Kent Friedman.

Haynes and Boone, LLP Partner J. Kent Friedman has been named the inaugural recipient of the Joe Niekro Humanitarian Award, honoring civic service to the Houston community.

“We are privileged to have Mr. J. Kent Friedman as the inaugural recipient of this award,” said Natalie Niekro, daughter of the famed Houston pitcher and president of The Joe Niekro Foundation. “The Joe Niekro Humanitarian Award honors outstanding commitment and contributions to the Houston community. Mr. Friedman is the epitome of what this award represents. It is with great pleasure that we recognize his service and dedication.”

Friedman is a longtime Houston legal, business and civic leader. He serves as chairman of the board of the Harris County– Houston Sports Authority, and serves on the boards of several charitable and corporate entities. Friedman has been recognized by several organizations for his community involvement, including the Houston Bar Auxiliary, which awarded him its Leon Jaworski Award that is given annually to the attorney inHoustonwho has done the most to make a difference in the community.

The award will be presented to Friedman at the third annual Knuckle Ball…A Pitch for Life event April 28 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. To learn more about the event and purchase tickets, visit www.joeniekrofoundation.org/knuckleball.

 

Honoring Brain Aneurysm Awareness Week March 12-18th

In 2012, more than 30,000 people in the United States will be affected by a ruptured brain aneurysm.  More than 40% of these aneurysms will prove to be fatal.  As we enter the month of March that will honor Brain Awareness Week March 12-18th, The Joe Niekro Foundation would like to share information about the warning signs of a brain aneurysm.  Research shows that early detection can make a significant difference in the outcome of a brain aneurysm.

Brain Awareness Week will be celebrated from March 12-18, 2012, and will be a global campaign to increase public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research.  Each year, Brain Awareness Week campaign combines the efforts of universities, hospitals, government agencies, schools, and professional associations in a week-long celebration of the brain.

The Joe Niekro Foundation is committed to providing critical awareness, education, support and research funding to reduce the incidence of brain aneurysm ruptures.  The goal of our organization is to educate people about the dangers of brain aneurysms and save lives by funding vital research and increasing awareness.

Brain aneurysms can affect people of any age and as many as 1 in 15 people have an unruptured brain aneurysm.  Even with today’s advanced nuero-imaging technology, 25% of people are misdiagnosed or receive delayed diagnoses for brain aneurysms.  To ensure individuals receive the appropriate care in an emergency situation, it is important to raise awareness of the warning signs and symptoms.

There are many risk factors that doctors and researchers believe may increase your risk of developing an aneurysm or, if you already have an aneurysm, may increase your risk of it rupturing including smoking, hypertension, drug use, infection, tumors, traumatic head injury and a family history of aneurysms.

Most brain aneurysms cause no symptoms and may only be discovered during tests for another, usually unrelated, condition. In other cases, an unruptured aneurysm will cause problems by pressing on areas within the brain. When this happens, the person may suffer from severe headaches, blurred vision, changes in speech, and neck pain, depending on the areas of the brain that are affected and the severity of the aneurysm.

Aneurysms may burst and bleed into the brain, causing serious complications including hemorrhagic stroke, permanent nerve damage or death. Once it has burst, the aneurysm may burst again and rebleed into the brain, and additional aneurysms may also occur. More commonly, rupture may cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage – bleeding into the space between the skull bone and the brain.

Shirts are available in Mens and Ladies styles, in a variety of colors and sell for $14.95 (includes shipping)

The importance of early detection of these sudden and silent killers is critical which is why The Joe Niekro Foundation has embarked on a national initiative called Wanna Get Lucky?  This t-shirt campaign is designed to educate the public on the importance of early detection. Help us save lives by joining this campaign to spread the word of why it’s important to Get Lucky. All monies raised from t-shirts sales goes directly to aneurysm awareness and education.  So as we enter into this critical month of raising the importance of brain aneurysm awareness, please join us by sporting a Wanna Get Lucky? t-shirt.  The life you save…could very well be your own.

Thank you for your support and continued assistance in helping us defeat these silent killers!

 

COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTARS TRAILER CHOIR, CHUCK WICKS AND KEITH ANDERSON TEAM UP WITH THE JOE NIEKRO FOUNDATION AND GO TO BAT FOR ANEURYSM RESEARCH

Trailer Choir, Chuck Wicks and Keith Anderson...Playing for a Cause

Country Music Superstars Trailer Choir, Chuck Wicks and Keith Anderson have teamed up with The Joe Niekro Foundation for a weekend of festivities in Houston, TX, April 27th and 28th.  It’s all in celebration of the 3rd Annual Knuckle Ball…A Pitch for Life, with proceeds benefitting brain aneurysm research, treatment and education.

Friday, April 27th will kick things off at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar with a special acoustic, in the round performance, beginning at 8P.   Patrons will hear hits like Rockin’ the Beer Gutt, Off the Hillbilly Hook and Shakin’ that Tailgate from Trailer Choir, Stealing Cinderella, All I Ever Wanted and Old School from Chuck Wicks, and Every Time I Hear Your Name, Pickin’ Wildflowers and Lost In This Moment from Keith Anderson.  These hits plus many more will fill the stage and make country music memories, while attendees experience an up close and personal view of these country megastars.

The festivities continue at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, April 28th as the entertainers will be joined by athletes from across the country at the 3rd Annual Knuckle Ball…A Pitch for Life, as they pay tribute to the beloved 13-year Houston Astros All-Star,  Joe Niekro.  At the peak of his Major League Baseball pitching career, Joe Niekro was famous for his command of the knuckleball, a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. Like a knuckleball, Niekro’s life took an unpredictable path on October 27, 2006, when he died suddenly from a ruptured brain aneurysm.

Niekro served 22 years in the Major Leagues, 13 of those with the Houston Astros.  He became the team’s first 20-game winner, and remains the all-time leader in wins among Astros pitchers.  Teaming up with his brother, Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, the two combined for 539 wins over their respective careers making them the most successful brother combination in Major League history.

In honor of his memory, daughter Natalie Niekro created The Joe Niekro Foundation, with a mission to raise funds for brain aneurysm research, treatment and help bring public awareness to this devastating condition affecting as many as 1 in 15 people.

A number of Astros players, along with former MLB, NFL and NBA Stars, will be on hand at the black-tie gala, featuring a reception, formal dinner, silent and live auction (for a list of previous attendees, click here).  Joe’s brother and Hall of Fame pitcher, Phil Niekro will serve as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, with a special presentation of The 2012 Joe Niekro Humanitarian Award to Haynes and Boone, LLP Partner and current Chairman of the Board of the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority, J. Kent Friedman.

We invite you to join us for a weekend of fun as we raise money for a condition that is killing thousands every year. For tickets and more information on both events and The Joe Niekro Foundation, visit www.joeniekrofoundation.org/knuckleball.

April 27th – 8P – Country Music Concert

Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar, 1031 E. 24th St. Houston, TX 77009

Tickets: $75

April 28th – 6:36P – Knuckle Ball…A Pitch for Life (Joe Niekro’s #36 symbolizes the start time)

Minute Maid Park, 501 Crawford Street, Houston, Texas 77002

Tickets: Individual Tickets start at $336, with table sponsorships ranging from $5,036-$25,036.

The Real Meaning of Christmas

It’s that time of year again. December is here and with it all the joys of the holiday season. But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, snow in the yard, stockings hanging in the living room, and shouts of “Merry Christmas” to those who pass us in the streets? Is this really Christmas?

For many people, including myself, Christmas brings great joy, but it also brings great sorrow.  We see so many people who don’t have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many of us are saddened as we think of a loved one who will not be able to come home for various reasons or it may remind us of those we have lost.

Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. Tomorrow we will be celebrating the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.

Why did He come? Why did God send His son to this sometimes cruel and hard world? He sent Jesus to us so that one day, He would grow up to become a very important part of history. His story (history) is one of truth, love, and hope. It brought salvation to all of us. Without Jesus, we would all die in our sins.

Jesus was born so one day the price could be paid for the things we have done that are wrong. The Bible says that all have sinned. We are all born with a sin nature. We do things that do not please God. Through the sins of Adam and Eve, we have all inherited that sin nature. We need to have that removed. The only way is through Jesus. Jesus came so He could die on the cross for ALL of our sins. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, we can ask Him to come into our hearts and forgive us. Then, we are clean and made whole. We can know that heaven is a place where we can go to when this life is over.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” I John 1:9

We can truly be happy at Christmas! No matter what may be happening, we can know that we are His children. We then become sons and daughters of God. Heaven will be our home one day.

Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year to invite Jesus into your heart. You will then have a “Merry Christmas.” The joy and peace you will receive will last all year as you look to God for all your needs to be met.

So as we celebrate this holiday, lets turn our faces to the heavens and be so thankful for what Jesus did to save each and every one of us.

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season! Rejoice!

Thanksgiving Eve…a reflection of thanks!

I can’t believe that 2012 is almost over – here we are on the eve of Thanksgiving, soon to be ringing in the New Year and I can’t help but wonder where the last 10 1/2 months have gone.   With non-stop travel, 20 hour work days, a growing business and a foundation that is on the verge of breakthrough, I am reminded that the cat-naps and down time I rarely get is all worth it because of where I am today.   Here I sit with a huge support system that is sharing in my vision of greatness - MY goal which has now become THEIR goal to educate the public on the importance of brain aneurysm research, treatment and education is happening before our eyes.  With a Board of Directors that is second to none and supporters that believe in our mission, The Joe Niekro Foundation truly is on the verge of greatness!  In just 10 short months, we have expanded to 6 nationwide chapters, established key relationships with phenomenal research hospitals, gained great support from new corporate partners and developed a Medical Advisory Board consisting of the top neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists in the country.  Each day The Joe Niekro Foundation is touching and changing lives and I am so thankful for what we have become and where we are headed!  Look out 2012, here we come…together we will continue our mission to educate people about this devastating condition that is effecting 1 in 15 Americans.  We hope you will join us in this fight….a fight worth every bump and bruise that happens along the way.  God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

 

Another Supporter Gets Lucky?

I have to share this amazing post by someone who understands the importance of Getting Scanned.  Please read the below post by The Afternoon Napper, a true survivor who’s perserverence and determination hasn’t let her condition stop her from saving the lives of others.

Posted by: The Afternoon Napper

It is very strange to me when someone uses the word “survivor” to describe me. I have never considered myself as such. Instead I say to myself, “Nope, this isn’t it” and afterwards, “Well, I’m not dead yet.” Experiencing life-threatening medical illnesses and events and making it through them is just what I do. I’m stubborn that way. I’m lucky that way.

In 2009, doctors discovered I had four brain aneurysms. (How this discovery came about is a long story for another time.) Three of the four
aneurysms were repaired via coiling, a fascinating process in which tiny platinum coils are run through the vascular system into an aneurysm and deployed to create a basket type structure. The procedure means only a day or so in the hospital vs. clipping via a craniotomy, which requires a much longer stay but is the most common aneurysm treatment. Only three of my four aneurysms were treated via coiling because the fourth—at less than 1 mm—is considered too small for coiling. It is however still there, and I think about it often. So far none of my doctors have recommended that I elect for an attempt at clipping the aneurysm. I am monitored with a yearly brain scan to check for growth or changes in the aneurysm. I have mixed feelings because on one hand I would like for the aneurysm to be large enough to treat with coiling, but on the other hand I do not want my aneurysm to grow, and generally, the fewer people
rooting around in my brain the better. My good friend, Amanda, says that I
should name the aneurysm. I’ve though about calling it Fred.

My status as one who has brain aneurysms—lest that word “survivor” be used
again—has led to my involvement with the Joe Niekro Foundation. The foundation was established in 2007 to honor baseball’s Joe Niekro, who died
suddenly as the result of a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2006. The problem with
aneurysms is that they tend to be asymptomatic until they rupture. Discovery is
often incidental. The foundation’s head-turning tag line speaks to that: “Wanna
Get Lucky? Get Scanned.” Note that the “Wanna Get Lucky?” bit is the only thing on the front of the foundation’s t-shirts, a design trick that I’m sure has
drawn more than one cat call by wearers’ way. The tongue-in-cheek saying has the tremendous benefit of being memorable and hopefully—after the cat calls—has prompted more than one discussion about aneurysms among those who had not previously thought about them.

On Nov. 21, I will be traveling to Raleigh, N.C. to be a speaker at a Niekro Foundation brain aneurysm support group. The meeting will be held in
conjunction with Duke Medicine. Doctors at Duke coiled foundation secretary Janie Schaeffer’s unruptured aneurysm, which is the only reason her Carolina blue blood continues to flow. I and my fellow speaker also are Tarheels. I’m hoping the two schools’ rivalry will result in a competition over who can send more med students and doctors to the meeting in order to hear our patient and survivor stories. The meeting will be a truly rare event. I am an intimal
fibromuscular dysplasia patient—FMD is rare, IFMD represents less than 10
percent of cases (so far I know of five cases internationally). My fellow
speaker experienced spontaneous coronary artery dissection, which up until recently was thought too rare to effectively study. We’re not zebras; we’re unicorns.

Those interested in attending the meeting are advised to contact the Niekro
Foundation via the organization’s website, Facebook, or Twitter. I’ll also be sure to more specific meeting information as it becomes available via The Afternoon Nap Society blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

The Joe Niekro Foundation Announces Newest Medical Advisory Board Member

The Joe Niekro Foundation is thrilled to announce our newest Medical Advisory Board Member, Robert D. Brown, Jr., MD, MPH.  Dr. Brown completed his medical school training at Mayo Medical School, neurology residency at Mayo Clinic and stroke and cerebrovascular disease fellowship at Mayo Clinic.  He also has a Masters of Public Health in epidemiology and clinical trial design.  He is a Consultant in the Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Chair, Department of Neurology, and the John T. and Lillian Matthews Professor of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic. He is a previous recipient of the Mayo Distinguished Clinician Award, Mayo School of Continuing Medical Education Outstanding Faculty Award, Mayo Individual Award for Excellence and the American Heart Association Stroke Leadership Award.   Dr. Brown has been elected to membership in the American Neurological Association, and is a fellow in the American Academy of Neurology and the Stroke Council of the American Stroke Association.  His research interests include cerebrovascular diseases of all types including intracranial aneurysms, stroke prevention, acute ischemic stroke, intracranial vascular malformations, primary central nervous system vasculitis and the epidemiology of cerebrovascular disorders.  He has authored or co-authored over 170 peer reviewed manuscripts, 30 book chapters, three textbooks on stroke and cerebrovascular diseases, and served as the editor for a comprehensive monograph on clinical neurology.  He has served as principal investigator, and on the executive and/or steering committees for numerous NIH-funded studies, including principal investigator of the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms.

Dr. Brown has been influential in establishing a strong partnership with The Joe Niekro Foundation and Mayo Clinic and we look forward to continuing to raise funds to support brain aneurysm research, treatment and education.  Click here to see Dr. Brown’s appearance in a recent Joe Niekro Foundation PSA.

JNF Vice President, Kari Ulrich (left), Natalie Niekro and Dr. Brown with Minnesota Twins alum Tim Laudner, Dan Gladden and Tony Oliva for Brain Aneurysm Awareness Day at Target Field

Natalie Niekro, Dr. Brown and Kari Ulrich at Target Field for the pre-game ceremony for Brain Aneurysm Awareness Day

Surgeons Treat Brain Aneurysms Through the Nose

Surgeons have discovered a way to treat brain aneurysms through the nose

Traditional methods of treating a ruptured brain aneurysm usually involve pretty invasive techniques, such as removing a piece of a patients skull, but surgeons at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have found a new way to stop the bleeding – and they do it by going right through the nose.

In a report published in the March 2011 edition of the journal Neurosurgery, Dr. Anand V. Germanwala and Dr. Adam M. Zanation describe a case involving Alfreda Cordero, who was the first person to undergo this innovative surgery.

“It really pushes the entire field forward,” Zanation said in a news release. “This isn’t going to change all aneurysm treatment tomorrow, but it gets the ball rolling so we may provide an additional option to future aneurysm treatment.”

Instead of doing open brain surgery or endovascular coiling, which involves snaking a catheter through the groin up to the brain to stop the bleeding – surgeons opted to thread their tiny equipment through Corderos’ nose to reach the two aneurysms, which were located right behind her nasal cavity. The new approach is called “clipping the aneurysms through the nose.”

“It’s taking the best from the coiling procedure, because it’s minimally invasive, and taking the best from the clipping procedure, because it’s more permanent — and putting them together,” Germanwala said. “We’ve proved that it can be done safely, it can be done effectively, and we can treat multiple aneurysms. It is something we can certainly consider in the future.”

Two years later, Cordero is healthy, and the surgeons consider the procedure a great success. “Her recovery was remarkable,” Germanwala added.

A brain aneurysm occurs when there is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain, and it often looks like “a berry hanging on a stem.”

And while most brain aneurysms don’t rupture or create health problems, when one does, it can turn deadly very quickly. As for surgery through the nose, the surgical team has used a similar technique to treat brain tumors, but never for a ruptured aneurysm.

To view Corderos’ story, click here.

Measuring Unruptured Aneurysms

This novel study established a new standard for the measurement of aneurysm treatment success, target aneurysm recurrence rate, and proves that coiling in an excellent treatment for ruptured and unruptured aneurysms.

Begun in 2007, the MAPS trial is the largest, most rigorous randomized controlled study to-date on the clinical effectiveness of coils for treating both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, which are estimated to affect approximately 5% of the population. Designed and led by Principal Investigators S. Claiborne Johnston, M.D., Ph.D., Cameron McDougall, M.D., and Anil Gholkar, O.B.E., M.B.B.S., the trial examined 626 patients worldwide with a single aneurysm.

Implanted in more than 250,000 patients worldwide, GDC Detachable Coils are made of very soft platinum wire and were the first coils cleared by the FDA for the minimally invasive treatment of brain aneurysms in 1995.  Cleared in 2002, Matrix2 Detachable Coils incorporate a PGLA polymer on the outside of a traditional platinum coil that is designed to degrade over time and promote rapid tissue development within the aneurysm.

Matrix Coils employ a proprietary outer copolymer coil over an inner platinum main coil. The copolymer runs the entire length of the main coil and constitutes approximately 70% of total coil volume.

“While the neurovascular specialty commonly measures aneurysm treatment success with angiographic images, we believe success should be more closely aligned with patients’ clinical outcomes,” Mark Paul, president of Stryker Neurovascular, was quoted as saying. “The MAPS Trial demonstrates the validity of TAR as a clinical endpoint and proves aneurysm coiling is a very effective therapy with excellent clinical outcomes.”

In the trial, 96% of patients with unruptured aneurysms and 90% of patients with acutely ruptured aneurysms were alive and free of disability out to 15 months after treatment. Trial results also demonstrate that, overall, Matrix2 Detachable Coils are as effective as GDC Detachable Coils (TAR rates of 13.3% vs. 14.6%, respectively).  In aneurysms with good occlusion (minimal blood flow entering the aneurysm) immediately post procedure, Matrix2 Detachable Coils demonstrate a statistically significant, superior long-term TAR rate of 2.7% compared to GDC Detachable Coils (9.6%).

SOURCE: Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) 8th Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs

 

Texas – Here We Come!

On September 13th, The Houston Astros will honor one of baseball’s most renowned pitchers and former Astro Knuckleballer, Joe Niekro.  Niekro spent 22 years in the major leagues, notching 221 wins and still holds the record, with his brother Phil, of the most successful brother combination in major league history, with 539 wins and the record of the winningest pitcher in Houston Astro history. On October 27, 2006, Joe passed away from a sudden brain aneurysm.  Today, his legacy lives on through The Joe Niekro Foundation, committed to the awareness and funding for aneurysm research and treatment.  To honor this knuckleball legend, The Houston Astros will host “Brain Aneurysm Awareness Night” at Minute Maid Park on September 13, 2011. Attending will be, President and Founder of The Joe Niekro Foundation, Joe’s daughter, Natalie, with a special on field ceremony prior to the game. Natalie will be joined by former teammates, Houston alumni, Larry Dierker, Art Howe and Enos Cabell, along with several aneurysm survivors from the Houston area for a special on field ceremony.  From 5:30-3rd Inning, fans can visit The Joe Niekro Foundation booth on
the concourse and receive a Wanna Get Lucky? t-shirt and autograph from these three former Astros in exchange for a minimum donation of $20.  Wanna Get Lucky? is the foundation’s national awareness  campaign to educate people on the importance of early detection. During the game, fans will also be encouraged to participate in a “Text to Give” campaign by texting the word Strikeout to 20222.  By doing so, a $10 donation to The Joe Niekro Foundation will appear on the donor’s cell phone bill.

Click here to watch the exclusive video that will be shown during the game on September 13th.  Come on Houston, join us in the fight and Knuckle Up with us on the 13th.

From Minute Maid, its off to Kingwood, TX for the 1st Annual Joe Niekro Foundation Golf-A-Thon on September 16th at Kingwood Country Club.   Participants can tee-it-up for 18 or 36 holes, all while raising pledges for the holes they complete from donations secured prior to their play.  With Joe Niekro’s jersey being #36, we encourage all to pay tribute to Joe and sign up for a full day of two rounds of 18.  Avid, as well as the novice golfers, will find this day one filled with fun, excitement and lots of laughs.  Grab your clubs and come join the fun as we compete for pledges on the links.

Its not too late to register, so Click Here to get signed up today!