About CTMA
Transverse Myelitis is a rare neurological disorder caused by inflammation across both sides of one level, or segment, of the spinal cord. The term myelitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord; transverse simply describes the position of the inflammation, that is, across the width of the spinal cord. Attacks of inflammation can damage or destroy myelin, the fatty insulating substance that covers nerve cell fibers. This damage causes nervous system scars that interrupt communications between the nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body.
Transverse Myelitis is one of several neuroimmunologic diseases of the central nervous system that includes: Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Optic Neuritis, and Neuromyelitis Optica (Devic’s disease). The membership of The Canadian Transverse Myelitis Association will include people with all of these disorders, their family members and caregivers and the medical professionals who treat people with these disorders.
Our History
The Canadian Transverse Myelitis Association (CTMA) was incorporated on July 12, 2010 as an organization dedicated to advocate and support those who have these rare neuroimmunologic diseases. We are a very new association and we are currently getting our programs in place in every province but please understand that this will take time. February 2011, the CTMA received the approval for its charitable status from the Federal Government.
Our Mission Statement
The CTMA was created to support and create a networking infrastructure for patients and their families; to provide relevant information about the latest findings in research and treatments; and promote public awareness of the rare neuroimmunologic disorders of the central nervous system. The CTMA works in collaboration with the other Transverse Myelitis associations, world wide, to provide the latest information to its members.
The Canadian Transverse Myelitis Association will assist Transverse Myelitis patients and their families by establishing nationwide support groups and by providing telephone and email services where users can access health information. In addition to establishing nation wide support groups, The Canadian Transverse Myelitis Association will organize symposium and/or workshops for Transverse Myelitis patients and their families, as well as physicians, nurses and care givers, in order to provide the latest information available on treatments, diagnosis, therapies, and emotional support. The Canadian Transverse Myelitis Association will provide educational material to Transverse Myelitis patients and their families as well as physicians, nurses and care givers.
The Canadian Transverse Myelitis Association hopes that in the future, we will be able to provide bursaries or grants to Canadian Researchers that study the area of neuroimmunologic disorders.
The CTMA’s mission is also to offer emotional support to its members and their families who are struggling with their diagnosis, changes in lifestyle and disabilities due to TM and other neuroimmunologic diseases.
Our current programs
The CTMA will assist in the development of local support groups and is involved in various fund-raising efforts to raise public awareness, to support scientific research and to support sending Canadian teens and young adults to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
The CTMA will provide its members, information on the latest scientific findings, as well as other resources for those with neuroimmunologic disorders. The CTMA is creating a database of health care resources for those with neurommunological disorders.
Programs under development
In the future the CTMA hopes to be able to support and conduct various symposiums and workshops involving both professionals and patients for the exchange of information regarding research and treatment strategies for persons with the rare neuroimmunologic disorders of the central nervous system.
We are very pleased that you have found the CTMA and we look forward in helping you along your journey with TM or any other neuroimmunologic disease you may be diagnosed with.
