Marilyn Wagner

Hi, my name is Marilyn Wagner and I would like to introduce myself as your AlphaNet Coordinator.

I live in Camden, Arkansas with my husband, son, daughter and four dogs. Just down the street is my married daughter who has blessed me with grandchildren. I was diagnosed in 1994, at age 41, after my brother found out he had Alpha-1. He had been very sick since his mid-thirties and was finally diagnosed. Knowing Alpha-1 is a genetic condition, his doctor suggested that all siblings be tested. Ironically, my sister who suffered from asthma was fine and I, who had experienced bronchitis quite often, was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Since then, I have had the most amazing medical support from my doctor in Little Rock, Arkansas. He prescribed Prolastin and went above and beyond the call of duty to help me resolve my complex medical problems and adjust to my diagnosis. When he arranged for me to start my infusion therapy, he also introduced me to AlphaNet. I’ve found you can’t put a price on the service AlphaNet provides; it’s a lifesaver.

The range of experience I have accumulated working in a variety of industries has prepared me well for assisting Alphas. I have gone from working in an office setting to being a customer service representative and finally, in my most recent job, marketing for a hospital. I am very excited to be able to combine my experience with my strong desire to help others cope with Alpha-1. I want to make sure no Alpha has to go through this alone; dealing with Alpha-1 is not as scary as we once thought.