Author
Udo Held, Group Leader SHG Saxony & LSA
On March 12, 2022, we held an in-person meeting at Rudelsburg Castle near Bad Kösen, together with the German Oxygen and Respiratory League LOT e.V. Twenty people had registered for the meeting in advance. Unfortunately, due to current health reasons, not everyone was able to attend.
We had the castle's Great Hall at our disposal, which allowed us to present ourselves. As soon as we arrived at the parking lot, we marked our spot 😊
We entered the castle grounds slightly late, but the 3G rule allowed us to go inside the restaurant. In the Great Hall, we split up between two tables: one for us "alpha males" and the other for the LOT Oxygen League. Unfortunately, their group leader couldn't attend. Despite having received his fourth COVID-19 vaccination, he was hospitalized with pneumonia and a positive PCR test. This has already sparked questions about whether to continue getting booster shots. But I suppose everyone should discuss that with their doctor.
Before we started eating, we began with a round of introductions, as we were also able to welcome our new, young members for the first time at a meeting.
After being treated to delicious food by the kitchen, we talked about the past months, long-term oxygen therapy, and how to handle oxygen while traveling, which then led us to the next topic.
The Alpha-Care Regional Day will take place on April 2nd, 2022 in Leipzig, organized by GRIFOLS under the 2G-Plus agreement. The topic will be: Alpha-Care: Holidays and travel with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
Then we moved on to the active movement part of the meeting, with most of the participants of the LOT Oxygen and Ventilation League saying their goodbyes beforehand.
Blue skies, wide views – it was a truly beautiful, warm spring day that we were able to spend there. Between Rudelsburg and Saaleck Castle on the bright banks of the Saale River.
Unfortunately, the young family then had to leave us, and we, the last remaining active group members, drove to Bad Kösen, where we continued our discussions over ice cream, cake, and coffee in the spa café.
For us it was a perfect day.
We've already received some initial feedback on the meeting, which shows me once again: we're doing a really good job!
Due to the low turnout of our members this time, we have not yet set a follow-up date.
I hope that we will also receive new input from the young family and that we can recruit them as deputy group leaders.
I would like to sincerely thank the active self-help group members for participating in the meeting – despite the rising number of Corona cases, which have now been with us for three years… or are we with them?
Greetings from Leipzig
Udo Held
Impressions
