Welcome to the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation and Sturge-Weber Syndrome Community Canada

The SWSCC provides information and support in English and French languages.

SWSC Canada Group

A worldwide community for individuals and families
living with Sturge-Weber syndrome

VBF/SWSCC Director Tom Gilbert sends a special "Thank You" to the doctors and medical staff who took care of him during his most recent brain surgery. Read "Tom's Journal" to learn more about his surgeries and recovery.

The Sturge-Weber Syndrome Community Canada (SWSCC) is the first website dedicated to the adults and children in Canada living with SWS, and their families and friends.

The SWSCC hopes to promote interest within the Canadian medical community and public-at-large, while helping to improve issues regarding the treatment and diagnosis of SWS and its related symptoms.

Each case of SWS is unique to the individual. The needs of a patient can vary greatly, depending on the symptoms and their severity.

We hope the information provided on this site will prove beneficial to those seeking help and answers about SWS. Please contact the SWSCC if you need further help or information, or if you have any suggestions or comments.

New Research

Low-dose Aspirin Treatment for Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS) Survey

Use of the Atkins diet for children with Sturge-Weber Syndrome

Join the VBF 2008 Day of Awareness Campaign
Tell Your Story
Help us Raise Needed Funds

Buddy Booby says, “Come in and see what’s new”.

Welcome to VBF 2008 International Day of Awareness: http://birthmark.org/awareness/

Look what’s new, VBF 2008 International Day of Awareness! We are excited to launch our international campaign for awareness on May 15. It’s the same day with a new look. Explore the new website and join in the fun.

This grassroots campaign serves to educate the public about vascular birthmarks and their related syndromes, and raise funds to support the work of the VBF.

VBF International Day of Awareness officially takes place annually on May 15, and is celebrated by hundreds of friends from around the world; however, many events are conducted throughout the year.

Participants can have fun while working to help those affected by birthmarks. Some past events include lemonade stands, garage sales, jeans day at work, a birthday party fundraiser, awareness bracelets and VBF We Care Bears sales, bake sales, sponsored marathons, Buddy Booby book read-along, a penny drive – the possibilities are endless.

There is something for everyone, especially you!

So please make your plans to participate in this event. Once you have registered your event, VBF will provide you with supportive materials and offer any assistance we can to make this campaign enjoyable and successful.

If you are interested in participating, visit the VBF International Day of Awareness website, or write to Paige Salvador at BASPASTS@cs.com.

Save the Date
2008 VBF International Conference and Masquerade

The VBF International Conference will be held in New York City on Saturday, November 15, 2008. Highlighting the conference are the top physicians in the world on vascular birthmarks and the related syndromes.

Prior to the conference, on Friday, November 14, 2008, VBF is hosting a Masquerade and Auction to benefit the work of VBF. This event will include live entertainment from guest celebrities, as well as one-of-a-kind and collectible auction items.

Information concerning registration and itineraries for these events will be posted soon, so please check back for all the exciting details.

VBF Names Dr. Alejandro Berenstein Physician of the Year

Dr. Berenstein Alejandro Berenstein, M.D., was named this year’s recipient of the VBF Physician of the Year award for his outstanding and innovative techniques in treating massive, complicated, and often life-threatening vascular malformations and hemangiomas.

Dr. Berenstein is the Director of Beth Israel’s Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, a state-of-the art facility for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases and complicated vascular malformations and hemangiomas. He is a pioneer in the field of Interventional Neuroradiology, a specialty that utilizes minimally invasive procedures to treat conditions related to the vascular system of the brain, head, face, spine, and spinal cord.

mission statement

The Sturge-Weber Syndrome Community, a branch of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation, provides support and services freely and upon a volunteer basis for individuals and families living with SWS and vascular birthmarks, while sponsoring research and promoting physician education and awareness, as well as education of the public at large.

What if the SWS Community earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Now it can! GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine, with a unique social mission... every time you use GoodSearch, money is generated to support the mission of VBF. Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation (we are a branch of VBF) as the charity you want to support. The more people who use this site, the more money we'll earn so please spread the word! www.goodsearch.com

The SWSCC is a Chapter of the Sturge-Weber Syndrome Community (US), a Branch of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation.

VBF is a fully approved not-for-profit. Your donations are tax deductible.
Federal Tax ID 16-1515227

Always seek the advice of a physician or other medical professional for diagnosis and treatment. The SWSC and/or VBF are not responsible for the content or accuracy of any information, advice or links on the site.