Connie Milstein

Archive for the ‘Epilepsy’ Category

In December, Connie Milstein hosted a beautiful reception to recognize the scientific work of Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE), where she is on the Board of Directors. The event also honored Tammy Haddad as a Friend of the CURE.

The reception helped to raise awareness of the toll that epilepsy takes on those who have it and their families.  In addition, Connie Milstein announced at the reception, held at the Newseum, her generous gift of $500,000 to CURE. This money is being put into the Axelrod Milstein Challenge Grant which will be a two year program and will help to fuel the research needed to find a cure for epilepsy.

As Milstein explained that night in front of the hundreds of guests, “Susan works tirelessly to find a cure for epilepsy and seizure disorders. Like many families across the world, the Axelrods live with this disease every day, but their work, their strength, and their optimism give hope to so many, as they fight and live for a cure.”

The reception was attended by a large range of supporters and admirers from Wolf Blitzer and Howard Fineman to Betsy Fischer, Gloria Borger and Roger Simon.  Terry McAuliffe, Airzona Attorney General Terry Goddard, Bob Stevenson, Jane Oates and Rich Galen were all there as well.

Hear Susan Axelrod, founder of CURE, discuss the organization and the viewing of the 60 Minutes segment about the organization. Join together with so many others, including CURE board members such as Connie Milstein, to learn more about this organization that raises awareness of, and money for, epilepsy research.

Axelrods with Connie Milstein

The premiere news program “60 Minutes” highlighted the ongoing struggle families endure when a member is stricken with epilepsy. Although more people have epilepsy than Parkinson’s, Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Sclerosis combined, the money invested in research into this frightening illness dwarf these other sicknesses.

As is her usual generous way, Connie Milstein made her elegant home in Georgetown the location for hundreds of friends and Washington, D.C. personalities to watch together the “60 Minutes” segment and learn more about epilepsy and its effect on families and the search for better treatments.

Follow the link for more information about CURE, the organization Susan Axelrod began in order to raise funding for research and increase awareness about epilepsy after her daughter, Lauren, was born with a severe type of epilepsy, which could not be controlled with medication, or in any other way.

Susan Axelrod, wife to political advisor David Axelrod, is the driving force behind the organization CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy and the mother or Lauren, their daughter, who has suffered for her entire life of 28 years from severe and untreatable epilepsy.

In order to increase awareness and help raise much needed funds, Connie Milstein hosted a “watch party” for CURE at her home in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. Included on the guest list and in attendance were some current stars on the Washington political scene, such as Vice President Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden; National Security Advisor James Jones; Alan Greenspan; Rahm Emanuel, who has known Lauren since she was a baby, and his wife Amy; Ambassador Richard Holbrooke; and many more people all concerned that research for newer and more effective ways to help people with epilepsy be stepped up.

Connie Milstein hosted a “watch party” of the video presented hear at her home in Georgetown to help raise awareness of the plight of people with epilepsy and their families. The news program “60 Minutes” presented this 12 minute segment describing what  having epilepsy that can not be controlled with medication has meant for Susan, David and their 28 year old daughter, Lauren Axelrod. Watch this video and be moved.

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