Newswise — Atlanta, GA – The Geoff Keller Chapter Group of the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States announced today a concert to celebrate the life of namesake Geoff Keller with his family and friends and build awareness about Malignant Hyperthermia. The concert is set for March 13, 2013 at 6:30 PM at The Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, Emory Campus, 1660 North Decatur Road, Atlanta, GA. Featured are "The Druid Hills Billys”, a Bluegrass band comprised of Atlanta-based doctors. Dinner served at 5:30 for $7 to concert-goers. Free parking at the Fishburne Parking Deck, 1672 North Decatur, or the Youth Activities Building, 1669 North Decatur.
MHAUS Board Members will be on hand to talk about Malignant Hyperthermia and answer questions about this fast-acting potentially fatal disorder triggered by certain types of anesthesia. Click here to register for concert
Geoffrey Warren Keller, a malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptible person, passed away on September 9, 2012. Geoff, age 26, will be honored as a loving husband, son, brother, and friend. His family and friends have come together to organize a series of concerts to memorialize Geoff, raise awareness about MH, and fundraise to benefit the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the US (MHAUS) mission to promote the optimum care and scientific understanding of MH and related disorders.
The concert will coincide with March as MH Awareness Month, and kick off, what is anticipated to be, a series of concerts to entertain, inspire, memorialize, and make us all aware of the difference we can make, and support MH education and preparedness.
Click this link to the Geoff Keller Group to learn more about Geoff, connect with family and friends, and to receive event updates.
About Malignant Hyperthermia: MH is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder found in an estimated 1 out of 2,000 people. Once triggered, the rapid progressive series of chain events include a body temperature of up to 107 degrees, muscle rigidity, system-wide organ failure, and, if untreated, eventual death. MH is often experienced in individuals undergoing, what was expected to be, routine surgery.
The incidence of MH is low, but, if untreated, the mortality rate is high. Introduction of a treatment drug and advances in the understanding of MH have saved many lives since the syndrome was first described in the 1960s.
About the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS): Founded in 1981 MHAUS is the only organization in North America dedicated to promoting optimum care and scientific understanding of MH and related disorders by encouraging healthcare professionals and patients and families to prepare for MH through educational materials and testing and the 24-hours MH Hotline that provides healthcare professionals with access to experts that specialize in MH crisis treatment.
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