People diagnosed with Alpha-1 often feel alone with the whole issue after their diagnosis. They have to painstakingly gather information themselves. While doctors do provide some information, they still have to do a lot of research on their own. Every participant confirmed this experience.

The group is intended for the greater Trier area, the Eifel region, and the Hunsrück region, encompassing a large part of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and southern North Rhine-Westphalia. The nearest support groups are located in Cologne, Mainz, and Heidelberg. Someone from Hamburg also attended the first meeting; they were there for an examination at the University Hospital Aachen and were able to combine it with our appointment.

The goal is to hold regular meetings and expand the range of topics. For example, I could imagine a future focus on the "effects of Alpha-1 on the liver" or on the topic of oxygen. And of course, we want to attract more affected individuals and interested people from the region to the group.

We are planning another meeting for 2025, likely in the fall (or at the latest, early 2026). You will find the date in the Alpha1 Germany event calendar in due course, or you can send me an email and I will send you the invitation directly.