Author
Linda Tietz, Alpha1 Germany eV, as published in Alpha1 Journal 1/2015.
Kerstin Wehlmann and Linda Tietz in (introductory) conversation
Linda Tietz: First, I would like to thank you for your election in
I congratulated the board at the members' meeting in Rostock on April 25, 2015. What areas of responsibility will you now be working on?
Kerstin Wehlmann: Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the members' meeting, so I'm all the more pleased to have been elected. My primary focus will be on the member database and administration. You're also a new member of our team, right?
Linda Tietz: Yes, that's right. I was elected to the advisory board and am responsible for photography and editorial content. How did you actually get involved with Alpha 1 Germany e.V.? Are you affected by the disease yourself?
Kerstin Wehlmann: I myself am MZ, my mother is ZZ. My first contact with Alpha1 came about when my mother (a former self-help group leader) occasionally asked me to type something for her. This led to a few visits to the self-help group. As a result, I decided to get involved with Alpha1. I think it's wonderful when people get involved for a good cause! That's why I want to contribute within my means.
Linda Tietz: My path to the association led through my father, Gernot Beier. After his sudden death in March 2015, I felt a strong need to continue contributing to his life's work. It is important to me to pass on his zest for life and his courage, which I hold dear in my heart, to people for whom good health is not something to take for granted. I myself, like you, am MZ. This was determined immediately after my father's diagnosis in 1994.
Kerstin Wehlmann: I was also tested immediately after my mother was diagnosed with ZZ. Fortunately, I haven't experienced any problems so far. How are you doing with the illness?
Linda Tietz: I myself suffer from a very rare bile duct anomaly in the liver. This isn't related to the alpha-1 deficiency, as only the bile ducts in the liver are affected. Nevertheless, my liver is closely monitored because of both conditions. After the family diagnosis of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, I had to understand and learn a lot of medical terminology. Do you have any medical training?
Kerstin Wehlmann: No, I come from a different industry. I trained as a technical draftswoman and have now been working for several years as a technical assistant in a medium-sized electrical engineering company.
Linda Tietz: What goals and expectations do you have for your work at Alpha-1-Germany?
Kerstin Wehlmann: I want to actively support the new team and believe that we can succeed in raising awareness of Alpha-1 and recruiting even more people for the association. Even more important, however, is to be there for those affected and their families, and to let them know that they are not alone.
