As spring passes into summer and we enter our third year of existence, I reflect on how wonderful our membership is and how exciting the growth and development of CARES Foundation has been. You, our members, have generously supported us, both financially and with your time. We have now opened our first real offices after being in my basement for 3 years. Our membership numbers have grown and our services have expanded. Our reach and impact is spreading. Newborn screening for CAH has been implemented in 38 states, and we are vigorously working on the balance. I feel a real sense of community amongst our members. I am so grateful for all of the support you have given us and the way the medical community has embraced our efforts. Our future is very bright!

I hope everyone will save the date for our next conference scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 24^th, 2004 at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ. We have many terrific speakers scheduled and will have many more offerings than in the past. The details of the conference are on page 8.

I hope you have had an opportunity to explore our new web site, www.caresfoundation.org . We have our newsletters archived there (click the NEWS icon), a section on clinical trials and a whole new look. I must give special thanks to Sue Bianchi, volunteer extraordinaire, who has put so many hours into laying out and programming our new site. She deserves our heartfelt thanks and applause for this wonderful, easier to navigate site. I also want to thank my brother-in-law, Bruce Estes, who designed the new look for the site.

I am delighted to announce that we have 2 new members of the Board of Trustees—Sandra Billings from Houston, TX and Jami Abell Patterson from Los Angeles, CA. Sandra has been an active member of our organization since the beginning and has 2 boys with CAH. Jami , who has a daughter affected by NCAH, wants to focus her efforts on the CAH community in Southern CA and is planning a fundraiser for CARES in spring 2005.

Dr. Mitchell Geffner, a pediatric endocrinologist at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles has agreed to join our Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. He brings great experience to the role in addition to being a really nice guy. We are so honored to have him as an advisor. You can read more about Dr. Geffner’s impressive credentials on page 9.

Our State support groups have many fun events planned for this summer, with a picnic in Sacramento, CA and outside Dallas, TX in June and a weekend of fun in coastal CT in July. See page 8 for details.

Please come and visit us in our new offices at 189 Main Street, Millburn, NJ 07041. We would love to give you the tour! Our furniture was all donated by Leisure Life Industries of New York City. They were relocating and gave us their old furniture. We offer our deepest thanks.

Many members called and emailed me about Jennifer Lynn, mother of a child with CAH and one of the leaders of our Indiana support group who suffered a devastating stroke recently which has left her unable to move or speak, and about Joseph Hall, a boy with CAH and a brain tumor. Joseph’s condition has not changed, but he is doing well and ready for a fun summer. Jenny Lynn’s family has set up a website for updates on her condition at www.jennylynn.org . She enjoys cards and pictures if you would like to write to her at 12729 Geist Cove Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46236. Please continue to keep Jenny and Joseph in your thoughts and prayers.

With the busy summer coming, it is a good time to check the expiration date on your bottles of Solu-Cortef. With the heat of summer, please don’t keep the Solu-Cortef in the glove compartment of your car or in other high heat areas. Also, remember to keep your children well hydrated with water and electrolyte drinks. Don’t forget to bring extra medications (in case of a travel delay or illness) and your Solu-Cortef kit with you when you travel. If you travel by air, you may need a letter from your doctor explaining the need to bring hypodermic needles on the airplane with you. And most of all, have a fun summer!

Warm Regards,

Kelly