If you have recently discovered you have Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia Syndrome, you're not alone. We're gradually adding faces and stories.
Alisha & Nova Steele - a mother and daughter, who are also Patrick Steele's sister and niece.
Ashley - see this article, about a Canadian woman who shared her Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia story on Rare Disease Day 2021.
Candance Mahlendorf - Candance Mahlendorf, caregiver for her adult son with HaTs. ☝️
Cynthia Knight - picture coming soon. Cynthia, who lives in New Zealand, started the Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia, Hypertryptasemia and Comorbidities group on Facebook.
Kathi Jo - we met online, but it was so exciting to meet her and her siblings in person at the TMS Conference in 2019.
Nicole Campbell - see this 1st article, about a woman who has a mission. Photo Courtesy Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat.
🆕04/30/2023 - It is so inspiring to see what 5 years have done in the Nicole's life. Grateful that we have gotten to know each other! And yes, there is a new updated video (requires Facebook access).
11/13/2022 - congratulations on your new updated video for Spectrum Health. Nicole has made shocking strides...we are so impressed with her resilience.
04/01/2021 - Happy 3rd legaversary, Nicole! 🎉
For more updated information, see her public Facebook group, My Zebra Journey. ⤵️
Jan Hempstead - see this article from The Mast Cell Society's website. Jan (left) and Karen (right) met at The Mastocytosis Society's conference in San Mateo, CA in 2019.
Logan Rigsby - Logan hopes to tell her story about her diagnosis sometime in the future. it includes a lifetime of asthma and allergies, as as well as a recent history of rashes. She works at Virginia Commonwealth University; ironically, at times she has worked on the same floor as Dr. Lawrence "Larry" Schwartz, do they have never met each other.
Megan Stansfield -
Patrick Steele - See this article from his Facebook page. It is a Public article, but requires access to Facebook.
🆕 Rita Rivard - Rita lives in the United Kingdom, and was featured in this story about Peloton™️-Induced Anaphylaxis.
Sarah C. Glover, DO, and Ken Wilson - Sarah (R) has the unique distinction of being both a HAT patient and a Gastroenterologist at the University of Mississippi. On the HATS Bookshelf contains articles that she has co-written. Her husband, Ken (L), has HAT as well.
Ella Wilson, Sarah & Ken's beautiful daughter⤵️ naturally has HAT, because HAT is autosomal dominant and both of her parents have HAT.
Xander Will, Karen Smith-Will, Kasi Grosvenor, Ella Grosvenor
Karen and Kasi are sisters. See the links below, which were videotaped at The Mastocytosis Society annual convention, in San Mateo, California, May 1st through 3rd, 2019.
- See YouTube video from Karen, "Why Take the Tryptase CNV Test"
- See YouTube video from Karen, "The Importance of Getting Family Members Tested"
- See YouTube video from Karen, "How Has the Tryptase CNV Test Helped You"
- See all other "Elevated Tryptase Testimonials"
In Memoriam
🕯️Laine Plotkin Viilo, 10/24/18 - Laine, self-proclaimed "Coxwain for the Lemon Patch rowing club," was a friend I only knew online. But at that time, I had never met anyone in person who had HATS, making relationships like hers special. Besides her quirky sense of humor, Laine was lightning-quick to share peer-reviewed research amongst the HATS community. Her BSN and vast hospital experience gave her invaluable insight that enabled her to help her own boys and others with mast cell-related disorders. Her obituary:
Laine Natalie Viilo Plotkin, age 37, of Concord, NC, passed away on Wednesday, October 24, 2018. Laine was the wife of Marc F. Plotkin and mother to Ethan Joseph and Aiden William, all at home.
She was born on August 18, 1981, to the late Joseph Walter Viilo who died in 2003 and to Susan Lynn Hartfelder Viilo Gable of Drummond Island, MI. Laine was raised on Drummond Island, Michigan and went to school at University of Michigan-Flint. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and went on to work in various hospital specialties.
Laine married Marc Franklin Plotkin on August 12, 2006, and was a wonderful wife and devoted momma to Ethan and Aiden. She was always creating family moments for them when they put puzzles together, played games, planting flowers and sharing ice cream. These special moments will continue to live on as happy and precious memories for the future.
Laine loved to care for people which drove her to become a Registered Nurse. In recent years Laine devoted herself to educating families with rare diseases and helping other parents find care and help for their children.
In addition to her husband, sons and mother, Laine is survived by her step father, Meade Gable of Drummond Island, MI, her father and mother-in-law, Charles and Sydnie Plotkin of Concord, NC, her sister, Lyndsay Douglass and her husband, Ryan of Traverse City, MI and brother, Shane Viilo of Iowa City, IA. Laine also leaves behind friends and all will miss her very much. Memorials may be made to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
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