Contact:

Gina Rothe, Director of Communications 

gina@birthmark.org

Latham, New York 

614.203.7074

www.birthmark.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VascularBirthmarksFoundation

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vbirthmarks/

May 5, 2021

Vascular Birthmarks Foundation Networks Its 125,000th Patient into Treatment

Latham, New York-based charity has worked with patients in all 50 states and more than 150 countries in its 27-year history to ensure accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatment plans

The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation (VBF) is pleased to announce they have networked their 125,000th patient, two-year-old James Jackson (Jax) Goodwin of Connecticut, into treatment. Founded by Linda Rozell-Shannon, Ph.D., (lovingly referred to as Dr. Linda), the organization has worked with families to get accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plans in six continents, within 150 countries, and all 50 U.S. states for vascular birthmarks and related anomalies. Considered an “orphan disease” with no one medical field specializing in it, VBF has worked to create a network of medical doctors, surgeons, dermatologists, hematologists, social-psychology experts, and other medical experts to work with families for treatment. 

“This is an amazing milestone for VBF,” said Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon, “When I started VBF in honor of my daughter Christine, I had no idea the impact this organization would have on our families and doctors. We will continue our work to ensure every single family has an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.”

To celebrate this milestone, VBF is asking any family who was helped by VBF to make a donation in honor of their family member to be featured on the VBF Wall of Hope. For more information or to donate to this campaign, visit https://birthmark.org/125k/ 

Throughout its 27-year history, VBF has grown its outreach from mail and a simple website, to social media support groups, an interactive website including direct access to doctors, and an international presence. VBF supports patients and families affected by hemangioma, port wine stain, arteriovenous malformation, capillary malformation, lymphatic malformation, Sturge-Weber syndrome, Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, and any other type of vascular birthmark and syndrome. They have advocated and fought for legislation in the United States, including the Child’s Deformity Act, requiring insurance companies to cover procedures needed to treat vascular birthmarks. Additionally, VBF offers training for doctors on vascular birthmarks, anomalies, and related syndromes (VBARS) through online coursework and research projects. 

VBF—along with Roy G. Geronemus, M.D.; Robert J. Rosen, M.D.; and J. Stuart Nelson, M.D., Ph.D.— presents the VBF 2021 Conference/Clinic in NYC on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at the Laser Skin and Surgery Center of New York. The event will provide more than 100 families with consultations from the world’s leading vascular birthmarks experts, free laser treatments, and support services.

About the Vascular Birthmark Foundation:

Dr. Linda Rozell Shannon (lovingly referred to as Dr. Linda) is the President and founder of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation. She has her Phd in Education, her Master of Science in Health Education, and has been a freelance writer and analyst for over 25 years. In 1994, after her daughter, Christine Mary Shannon, was diagnosed with a hemangioma, Dr. Linda began researching and writing information on vascular birthmarks, creating what is now known as the Vascular Birthmark Foundation (VBF). Since its inception in 1994, VBF has successfully networked thousands of children and adults into treatment, sponsored significant research, educated physicians and affected family members about the diagnosis and treatment of vascular birthmarks, and established chapters all over the world.