One of the things that I'm most proud of is our patient magazine, the IC Optimist. We started this in 2004 because we received many requests from patients who wanted a printed resource that they could share with their families and friends. And, of course, it's one way that patients without access to the web stay connected. But, most of all, it's how we fund the free IC support services offered on our website. When you purchase the IC Optimist, you're saying that you believe that patients need support and, with this purchase, are helping to make that happen.

We did we call it the IC Optimist?? Because we are, and continue to be, so very optimistic about the future of IC and the tremendous advances that are being made each month to help us get to the bottom of this condition. Unlike other IC newsletters, ours are entirely patient focused. We want to you to find direct, immediately useful information in every edition. Our lead stories are always unique and diverse, such as covering IC in Appalachia or the 2008 breakthrough of creating IC phenotypes. We include the latest research, urgent consumer awareness alerts (such as the heparin recall that affected several IC patients) as well as practical stories on self-help, diet, exercise and more. You'll also find stories by many of the best writers in the IC movement including Bev Laumann, Julie Beyer RD, Gaye Sandler and Stacey Shannon.

Each issue runs between 28 and 40 pages! - Jill O., ICN President