NEW YORK, NEW YORK DAY #2 “Sleep? Who Needs Sleep?”

Today we crawled out of bed early in order to get to the Stakeholder training.  We were asked to be at the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation headquarters at 9:30 AM this morning.  I am sure you will agree that 9:30 is a very reasonable time.  Unfortunately for us that translates to 6:30 AM.  Taking a late flight and following it with an early morning awakening is not ideal.  I am not much of a sleeper so I can handle it.  Patrice on the other hand is a marvelous sleeper and did not do as well.  In spite of that she is a real trooper and did a great job at today’s training.

Today’s academic sessions were great.  We heard from an inflammatory bowel disease expert and Foundation representatives about the latest research in the field and what is expected of us as Stakeholders.  What I found most interesting was speaking to the other Stakeholders in the room.  We met patients and parents of patients from all over the country.   It was great hearing from all of them.  Well, except for the guy from Alabama who kept talking about “Bama” football…….ugh!

Tonight we had dinner with the other Stakeholders and a number of the scientists who are on the review committee.  It was a great meal and great to get to know some of the other committee members.

Tomorrow we are supposed to be at Headquarters at 8:00 AM (5:00 AM Los Angeles time).  I will be there but I am not sure my co-pilot will be at my side.  I only wish I could sleep as well as she does.  She is my idol.