Presentation Reported in National Foundation Focus Newsletter

The above presentation was reported in the Fall 2001 Issue of the National Newsletter, Foundation Focus. The following is a reprint of this featured article.

Everett E. Masters, founding member of the Northwest Texas Chapter, was honored at the Melba “Bandy” Masters Memorial Myasthenia Gravis Clinic on September 8, 2001. After Melba lost her battle with MG on February 16, 1961, Masters established in her memory a free clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of MG that was held for the first time on November 14, 1961.   Everett and Melba Masters received the charter from the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. for the first chapter “west of the Mississippi” on July 30, 1956. Masters’ leadership and dedication of over 40 years service to the chapter has served as an inspiration to all of us who have joined with him as we strive together to achieve a “World Without Myasthenia Gravis”!  

The Melba “Bandy” Masters Memorial Myasthenia Gravis Clinic is held each fall at the Hi-Plains Hospital in the rural community of Hale Center north of Lubbock, Texas. Over the past 40 years, this clinic has had brought to this little rural town numerous MG specialists beginning in 1961 with Dr. J. Edward Tether, who at that time was considered one of the foremost authorities on MG in the world. The Masters met Dr. Tether when they traveled to the University of Indiana Research Clinic for Myasthenia Gravis to receive the “latest MG treatment available” for Melba. Through the friendship that developed between the Masters, their family physician in Hale Center, Dr. D. R. Foster, and Dr. Tether, the clinic was started and has successfully continued through the years. That first year, Dr. Tether and Dr. Foster examined eight patients suspected to have MG. In 1979, the clinic grew to 83 patients including some who were currently under treatment in Hale Center and others who were recently diagnosed by other area physicians seeking an evaluation by Dr. Tether.  

Forty-three patients from Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma were registered for the 2001 clinic held in September. Thirty-two of the 43 were attending the clinic for the first time. Approximately ½ of these first-time patients were recently diagnosed or have had MG for a few years but just became aware of the clinic through the recent promotion by area newspapers and came for confirmation and evaluation. The remaining half was experiencing the symptoms of MG that were listed in the newspapers. MG specialists, Dr. Richard J. Barohn of the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Dr. Sharon Nations of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, diagnosed two of these patients with MG and will be following up with more tests on several of the other patients. They were also able to rule out MG for some patients. Even those who didn’t receive a diagnosis of MG expressed how fortunate they were to have had the opportunity to be evaluated by these specialists. They left the clinic very aware and informed about MG, which is also an important aspect of the annual clinic.  

Other MG specialist that have helped conduct this annual clinic include Dr. Bernard M. Patten of Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas and Dr. Gil Wolfe of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Dr Hugh H. Wilson, Jr. whose family practice brought him to Hale Center when Dr. Foster retired in 1973 has been a vital part of these clinics for the past 28 years. Dr. Wilson has served as medical advisor for the Northwest Texas Chapter during this time.

Board Deliberates the Closing of the Melba Masters Memorial Clinic

Following the annual clinic of 1999 when there had been only 20 follow-up patients and no newly diagnosed patients, the Board considered discontinuing the clinic due to lack of turnout and lack of funds to cover the cost of the clinic. Coleen Shinn, chairperson that year asked Everett Masters what he thought we ought to do. Everett's response was that as long as there was a chance to diagnose even one MG patient, he thought that we should continue to have the clinic. That ended the discussion and Board Members, Coleen Shinn, Marvin and Kathy Burnett, and Lajuana Miller committed themselves to the task of working to fund future clinics out of respect for Everett's years of dedication to the clinic and the chapter.   Fundraising projects such as the Annual Walk-A-Thon and Golf Tournament were established.  Funds raised along with the interest from the Masters' Trust established by Everett when the clinic first began, and donations from the Edie Brooks Memorial Fund made future clinics possible and together the chapter continued Everett's vision.

Just a few weeks after our 40th clinic, the closing of the Hi-Plains Hospital in Hale Center not the lack of funds, marked the end of an long-standing era of a free MG clinics held at that almost revered location. For four decades, doctors from outstanding universities and medical centers, nurses, patient's family and friends, Chapter board members, and MG patients came together once a year in this small west Texas town. An amazing amount of MG diagnoses, treatment, and awareness was generated around this clinic throughout it's 40 years of service the the MG patients of the Northwest Texas Chapter area. 

Melba Masters Memorial Clinic Photos

Check out the photos that have been added to the Gallery for Melba Masters Memorial Clinic ... more to come!  Also, Jennie McVicker, chapter board member for many years, preserved in a scrapbook a large collection of news clippings and photos of many clinics through the years.  These will be scanned and provided here...please check back.

Continue on with our Chapter history to discover the fate of the Melba Masters Memorial Clinic and to learn more of our history though archived Chapter News & Events...

 

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