In memory of Elisabeth Takahashi

I met Ms. Takahashi in 2004 at the Alpha1 information day she organized in Hamburg. Our son had been diagnosed a year earlier – a tough year in which, apart from regular doctor's visits, we had primarily gathered our information from the vastness of the internet and were therefore quite confused.

The concrete help provided by the association was a great help to my husband and me. Finally, with Ms. Takahashi, we had a competent contact person who not only had excellent medical knowledge but also, along with her team, provided us with comprehensive support.

We wanted to give something back, and so in 2005 I joined the board of Alpha1 Germany as secretary. That was 13 years ago, of which I spent a good six years working closely with Ms. Takahashi. I got to know her as a very goal-oriented, proactive person, passionate about her organization. She dominated the information days she organized, and many a speaker stood at attention… Her credo was to run the organization like a company – and she always kept the reins firmly in her grasp.

She was a great networker – if she didn't know someone, she got to know them in order to bring them together again. She networked until the pulmonologist exchanged information with the gastroenterologist, who in turn took note of the pediatrician.

She was persistent – the fact that we now so naturally include Alpha1 children is thanks to her commitment. In the 2000s, these children initially played no role whatsoever in the Alpha1 world.

She was a great organizer – many of Alpha1 Germany's structures are based on her plans and implementation. She didn't hesitate to secure the necessary funds through persuasion and persistence. Ms. Takahashi wasn't someone you could just sit around – her decisive manner polarized opinions. Regardless of whether you were a supporter or an opponent of her style, her immense dedication to this organization is undeniable. This unconditional commitment is what planted the seed in me that Alpha1 Germany must continue – simply because it feels so good to have real contacts, people who are knowledgeable and offer empathetic support in times of worry and hardship, instead of being bombarded with unfiltered, overwhelming information.

In silent remembrance, Gabi Niethammer

The Alpha world has lost a strong woman in Elisabeth Takahashi, to whom we owe a great deal. She championed raising awareness of the disease and its treatment, laying a foundation upon which we continue to build today.

The board of directors of Alpha 1 Germany