LIFESTYLE Portsmouth HeraldPublished 2:00 p.m. ET Dec. 13, 2023 | Updated 2:01 p.m. ET Dec. 13, 2023 PORTSMOUTH — The Alex Manfull Fund, a leading nonprofit combating infection-associated immune-mediated neuropsychiatric disorders like PANDAS and PANS, has… Read More
Susan Newman Manfull | Guest ColumnistPublished October 7, 2023 Portsmouth’s Memorial Bridge will be illuminated green Monday night in recognition of PANDAS/PANS Awareness Day. In our state and across the nation, Oct. 9 is designated to… Read More
Caregivers of children with mental illness are struggling. What can bedone to help? by Sheilah M. Gauch Posted September 20, 2023 | Reviewed by Devon Frye KEY POINTS In my last two articles, I discussed chronic… Read More
Identifying new pathways to help more children. by Sheilah M. Gauch Posted November 25, 2022 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan KEY POINTS We are at a pivotal moment regarding support for children right now. The systems designed to help… Read More
Dr. Janet Cunningham, a psychiatrist who specializes in immunopsychiatry at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden, was in Portsmouth as a presenter for the October 1st PANDAS/PANS Symposium hosted by The Alex Manfull Fund. Dr. Cunningham dropped… Read More
New Research Shows Rare Gene Variants Can Impact Neuropsychiatric Disorders Triggered By Strep And Other Infections Researchers from the US and the Netherlands released new findings at a symposium in Portsmouth, New Hampshire hosted by The… Read More
by Karen DandurantPortsmouth HeraldPublished September 30, 2022 PORTSMOUTH — William “Towny” and Susan Manfull, who lost their daughter four years ago, have directed their pain into a lifelong mission to understand what took the life of their child… Read More
An article in the Boston Herald about an amazing, persevering group of women — with some help from State Reps like Josh Cutler — accomplished what some thought impossible: the establishment of an advisory council on… Read More
By Jill Barth – Contributor
Food and Drink
Published October 9, 2020
When Alexandra “Alex” Manfull passed away in 2018 at 26 years old, her parents barely understood the condition that took her life. Susan and William “Towny” Manfull’s daughter was living in Washington D.C., pursuing a successful career in finance. She was a runner and reader, a proud graduate of Princeton University and Phillip Exeter Academy. She was bright and kind, and gone too soon.
Alex suffered from a disease called PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) and the Manfulls weren’t the only people unfamiliar with the condition—many physicians, parents and educators hadn’t even heard of it. “It’s not covered in medical schools, not a part of the curriculum,” says Susan. “We are doing work on seeing that changed.”…
Tacos and wine aren’t your average pairing. But Alex wasn’t your average young woman.
This month, my pairing is dedicated to the memory of Susan and Towny’s daughter, Alex, who died from complications from PANDAS (Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections). October is PANDAS Awareness Month.
If you have or know a child, teen, or young adult who—after a bout of strep throat—is suddenly exhibiting symptoms of OCD, ADHD, motor or verbal tics, separation anxiety, mood changes, sleep disturbances, skin disorders or even a change in handwriting, you should ask the question: could this be PANDAS? Make an appointment with your physician, and ask. Wouldn’t it be better to be wrong than risk not having asked? For more information, please visit the…