David R. Jennings Local artist Kristen Stein, center, shows twins Janette Michaud, left, and Janet Bassett the paintings she's donating to the silent auction they organized for Marfan Syndrome. The Michaud family was ravaged by the disease.

Stricken with deadly disease, two families come together to find solution

By Terri Chance, Enterprise Staff Writer
March 19, 2005

Growing up with a life-threatening disease was not a big deal to Kristen Stein; after all, her father had it and so did her younger brother. They had all known about the illness and its consequences for decades. They also were keenly aware that very few people had even heard of Marfan Syndrome.

But, through a chance meeting, Stein, a Broomfield resident, was introduced to the Michaud family who had suffered the worst that Marfan could give them: a husband dead at 43, years later a daughter at only 23, and another daughter succumbed at 33. Today the family is headed up by the matriarchs, twin sisters Janet Bassett and Janette Michaud of Severance.

Janette married the late Fernand Michaud, who carried the mutated gene. It was passed to all three of her daughters, one who is still fighting for her life, and three grandchildren.

On Saturday, the Michauds are hosting the first silent auction for research of Marfan. A safari to Africa and original works of art were donated for the auction, said the disease is usually first diagnosed by appearance.

"You tend to be tall, and your arm span is usually longer than your height. You look a bit disproportional. You're tall and thin with long fingers," Stein said.

The physical characteristics are so recognizable that many doctors believe President Abraham Lincoln might have suffered from Marfan.

But being tall isn't what hurts the patient. Marfan Syndrome affects the connective tissue, which literally holds the body together to provide a framework for growth and development. With Marfan, the connective tissue is defective and can tear, split or pull away from the muscle and bones it's supposed to anchor. Tissues around the eyes, skeleton and lungs are affected, as are the blood vessels. Many Marfan patients die because their largest artery, the aorta, splits or tears.

What's frustrating about the disease, Stein said, is that she and her father have a relatively mild case, while her brother suffers constantly. And no one knows why. When Stein's father was diagnosed in the early 1980s, he was given a life expectancy of 43 years. He was 41 at the time. Today, he's in his mid-60s and doing fine.

"We all have the same genetic mutation, but even the defective gene can be variable," Stein said.

The key is early diagnosis and close medical attention.

"I take beta blockers, which lower my blood pressure and reduces my heart beat so my heart doesn't have to work so hard. With treatment, like an annual echocardiogram and a dye test, where the doctors inject dye into your blood vessels to see if they look weak, you can get surgery if you need it before your heart is in really bad shape," Stein said.

Stein and her husband welcomed a baby girl into the family nine months ago. Isabella was born with Marfan Syndrome.

"When she was born," Stein said, "I knew right away. I said to my husband, 'Look at those long fingers.'"

Little Isabella, whose leg length is longer than 80 percent of children her age, has been to Children's Hospital twice, but doctors report she's doing fine for now, so she isn't on any medication yet. But she probably will be in the future. Stein just won't know if her symptoms will be mild or severe. While Stein tells her story, the baby casually gnaws on a teething cookie, unaware of the life she's facing.

The Michaud Silent Auction is an opportunity for the Stein family to be a part of their daughter's future, helping to raise money and get the message out that this disease exists. Those who have it carry a card that instructs any doctor, emergency room and paramedic to check the heart before they are dismissed as healthy.

"We look healthy," Stein said, "because we're tall and thin, so doctors don't usually check our hearts."

In the midst of the heartbreak that has affected the twins, Bassett and Michaud still find the strength to laugh. In one moment they explain the desperation of Michaud's 37-year-old daughter as she faces surgery on her aortic valve later this year, in another they're making jokes.

"It's a nasty disease," Bassett said. "We're not white-haired for nothing."

Copyright 2005, The Daily Camera. All Rights Reserved.

Color and Style. Contemporary Artist Kristen Stein Launches Debut Art Book. Great Gift. Must See

Award-winning, professional artist Kristen Stein has released a 1st-edition art book of her most popular cubist paintings over the past four years. Paintings such as “All that Jazz”, “The Golfer”, “The Birth of Venus 2002”, and “The Peacock”, among others, are included in this limited-edition art book.

(PRWEB) December 9, 2005 -- Award-winning, professional artist Kristen Stein has released a 1st edition art book of her most popular cubist paintings over the past four years. Paintings such as “All that Jazz”, “The Golfer”, “The Birth of Venus 2002”, and “The Peacock”, among others, are included in this limited-edition art book

If you are looking for an original art book available in select stores or in limited-release online, then this limited-edition art book is the perfect choice! Enjoy the vibrant, bold images captured in Kristen’s unique art deco style. This 74 page book is filled with interesting paintings done over the past four years.

Link to Publication*: http://www.lulu.com/content/194319

ABOUT ARTIST
Kristen Stein is an award-winning contemporary artist living in Colorado. Her styles include, but are not limited to, contemporary, abstract, modern, expressionist, pop folk, and cubist. You can view a sample of Kristen's various styles on her website at www.KristensCreations.com or www.StudioArtworks.com.

Kristen's paintings can be found in public and private collections within Australia, Canada, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Japan, the United Kingdom, and throughout most of the continental United States. She is represented internationally by Perdurabo Art, Ltd.

Her art was featured in a special 2002 art calendar in tribute to the events of September 11th. Her cubist work will appear in the promotional logos for the Ferndale Fine Art Show in Michigan later this year and appeared on the program cover of the Allied Social Science Association's (ASSA) annual meetings in January 2003 Her whimsical pet art appeared on the program cover of the Bulldog Club of Greater Seattle's 2002 Specialty Show. In April 2002, her painting "The Birth of Venus 2002" won first place in the "Birth of Venus" themed contest held by the emerging artists group "ESR@". She recently exhibited her work at Gallery Sovereign in Boulder, Colorado. Select works are currently on display at Gallery on 6th in Denver, Colorado. Kristen is currently represented internationally by Perdurabo Art, Ltd.


MEDIA CONTACT:
Kristen Stein

2006 Cubist Art Calendar now available.

 
Just published -- Kristen Stein : Contemporary Paintings







First-time Author Kristen Stein Debuts Whimsical Children's Book About Vegetarian Lion

Award-winning, professional artist Kristen Stein releases a delightful children's book featuring the antics of a whimsical vegetarian lion. Kristen is the author and illustrator of this brand new book.

Broomfield, CO (PRWEB) December 12, 2005 -- Award-winning, professional artist Kristen Stein releases a delightful children's book featuring the antics of a whimsical vegetarian lion. Kristen is the author and illustrator of this brand new book.

This wonderful story written in rhythmic prose with bright, vivid illustrations follows the activities of a whimsical vegetarian lion. The delightful story shows that you can be the "King of Beasts" while still "eating your veggies". A great story to teach your little one that it’s okay to be a little different from the rest of the pack and that good things come to those that eat healthy. The story has romance, intrigue, humor and more. Sure to become one of your child's favorite stories! Written and illustrated by award-winning contemporary artist Kristen Stein.

Link to Publication: http://www.lulu.com/content/198983

About Artist
Kristen Stein is a contemporary artist living in Colorado. Her styles include, but are not limited to, contemporary, abstract, modern, expressionist, pop folk, and cubist. You can view a sample of Kristen's various styles on her website at www.KristensCreations.com or www.StudioArtworks.com.

Kristen's paintings can be found in public and private collections within Australia, Canada, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Japan, the United Kingdom, and throughout most of the continental United States. She is represented internationally by Perdurabo Art, Ltd.

Her art was featured in a special 2002 art calendar in tribute to the events of September 11th. Her cubist work will appear in the promotional logos for the Ferndale Fine Art Show in Michigan later this year and appeared on the program cover of the Allied Social Science Association's (ASSA) annual meetings in January 2003 Her whimsical pet art appeared on the program cover of the Bulldog Club of Greater Seattle's 2002 Specialty Show. In April 2002, her painting "The Birth of Venus 2002" won first place in the "Birth of Venus" themed contest held by the emerging artists group "ESR@". She recently exhibited her work at Gallery Sovereign in Boulder, Colorado. Select works are currently on display at Gallery on 6th in Denver, Colorado. Kristen is currently represented internationally by Perdurabo Art, Ltd.

  
The Vegetarian Lion - written and illustrated by Kristen Stein