It is hard to imagine that in a
country as prosperous as the USA that anybody could suffer from severe
malnutrition. However, it does happen and is one of the major
complications of Gastroparesis (GP). Gastroparesis is not just an
inconvenience. It is a serious gastro-intestinal condition that
profoundly affects the lives of many of those who suffer from it.
Although there are different severities of the condition, everyone who
suffers from Gastroparesis experiences significant disruption of daily
activities. No one is immune to developing the disorder, and it
appears in all age groups.
One of the most troubling
aspects of Gastroparesis is that there are limited treatment options for
patients. The treatments that are available are not very
effective. Also, there are many Gastroenterologists who know very
little about Gastroparesis. Patients are frequently misdiagnosed with
other GI disorders and not responding well to treatment.
G-PACT is a legal 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to supporting
anyone who is affected by Gastroparesis in some manner. This
includes patients, doctors, researchers, and friends and family. The faces you see on this site are ordinary people living each day in
the face of a very devastating and debilitating condition.
For those of you with
GP, or a loved one with it, please read the above article regarding
limited and emergency access to Zelnorm. If you or your loved one has
been affected in any way by its removal from the market a few years ago,
please contact me at hastonc@g-pact.org. You may also contact me even if
you were not personally affected, but have GP and are interested in
petitioning for its return.
Click here for latest update on petition.
New Website in the Works G-PACT is in the process of redesigning and developing a new website
with more enhanced features, a cool new look, and new information.
Please be patient with us as non-crucial portions of this site will not
be updated as we make this change.Important, new, information
will continue to be added as we receive it, and included in the new site
as well.
Check out what's
NEW with G-PACT!
G-PACT has implemented a number of new programs in recent weeks. Please
click here to see what's happening! You can
now join G-PACT Facebook and easily increase awareness. There's
even more to come. We have a lot of projects in the works. If you would
like to send us some ideas on additional programs you would like to see,
please contact
hastonc@g-pact.org.
Would you like to stay in your PJ's to
shop?
Save gas money and time!
You can shop online and support G-PACT at the same time! If you go to
www.buyforcharity.com or
www.goodshop.com and select G-PACT as your designated non-profit,
we will receive a portion of each purchase you make! Shop from top notch
stores such as Amazon, Best Buy, Barnes 'n Noble, PetSmart, Sears,
Linen's 'n things, iTunes, Overstock.com, ebay, Kohl's, Target, Walmart, and
many others!
Help Increase Awareness through YouTube!
G-PACT is currently working on creating a brand new website with cool
new features. As a part of the project, we are also putting together an
awareness video to place on the site and in YouTube. If
you are willing to have your photo incorporated into the video, please
send it to spiderweb@g-pact.org.
Please send high quality, unedited photos with a clear view of your
face. We can especially use more pictures of children who are battling
this.
We also need you to include the following statement:
"I, [your name], give G-PACT permission to use my photograph for an
awareness video about Gastroparesis."
We promise that we will only use your photograph for the purposes of
this video. If you would like to send more than one photo, please do,
but know that we may not be able to use every photo in the video.
Also, along with your photo, please include
a brief statement of how your life has been impacted by GP or what you
want people to know about your battle. For example, we have received
some excellent quotes including things like "I want to dance again," "I
am a child of God, not a disease," "I want to play and laugh again with
my children," "I want to be able to eat birthday cake at my birthday,"
"Gastroparesis will not stop me from becoming a professional fitness
competitor," "I can still make a difference in the world," "I still want
to be a famous fashion designer, no matter what," "GP does not define
me," among many others!
Thanks in advance for helping us make the world aware of Gastroparesis!
Help others with Gastroparesis!
If you would like to help others with Gastroparesis from your home, please e-mail Colleen at
beenerc@g-pact.org for more
information. We have many volunteer opportunities for any commitment level!
NEW!
G-PACT's Latest Media Awareness Campaign
G-PACT has initiated a new awareness campaign in order to reach out to
the media. It's very simple to be involved in this campaign! Simply
click here, and type your personal
story into our standardized letter and we will distribute all letters to
our media contacts. The more people who participate, the more likely our
cause will be publicized and awareness increased! Let's all band
together to make the world aware of this devastating illness!
New Awareness Bands Available! They have one for AIDS, Heart Disease, Cancer, and we
have one for Gastroparesis too! Increase awareness of Gastroparesis by
wearing one of our unique and colorful bands! These will surely draw
attention to our cause! The quote says "Rays Awareness-Discover A Cure www.g-pact.org." "Rays"
(or "raise") of sun from our logo bring us hope that through
raising awareness there is a brighter future for everyone afflicted with this
condition!
Actual Product
Complete Statement on Band
The
cost for each band, including S/H, is $4.00. All proceeds will go
towards G-PACT in our mission to increase awareness of Gastroparesis.
Help us help you by wearing an awareness band and spreading the word!
To place an order securely online:
You may also order by sending a check to:
G-PACT Awareness Bands
702 Winebary Circle
Lewisberry, PA 17339-9739
Free Restaurant Cards Available!
Do you
eat out and get tired of getting strange looks about your order or the
amount you eat? Do you pay full price for meals that you only eat a
couple of bites of? Do you get tired of explaining this over and over?
G-PACT has created personalized medically necessary discount restaurant
cards. These cards are the size of business cards and give a brief
overview of Gastroparesis. The cards requests that GPers be allowed to
order off the child's or senior's menu, share a plate with another
customer, or receive a substantial discount on another meal due to diet
restrictions and need for smaller portions. These are FREE to anyone
with GP. Please click here for more
info.
The information on this site has been reviewed by medical professionals
and determined to be accurate:
"When Carissa Haston leaves for Florida today, it will be a case of
the patient going to lecture the doctors."....."
Joe McGrath, a spokesman for Minnesota-based Medtronic, said Haston's
appearance will help alert doctors to the goals of G-PACT. The session
will come on the first day of Digestive Disease Week, the biggest annual
gathering of gastroenterologists nationwide." Source: Harrisburg Patriot-News, PA, May
15, 2003
"Carissa's (President/Webmaster)
physician, Dr. Kenneth Koch of Hershey Medical Center, says that the
site 'has very accurate, solid medical information. (The site is) an
incredible undertaking and, when you consider how she feels most of the
time, it's even more incredible.' " Source:
The Shippensburg Sentinel, PA, October 16, 2002
"He
[Dr. Ken Koch, Div. of GI, Hershey Medical Center, PA] praised the
G-PACT Web site, www.g-pact.org, calling it a unique blend of personal
support and solid medical knowledge." Source:
Harrisburg Patriot-News, PA, October 15, 2002
We respect your privacy
G-PACT strives to maintain full
confidentiality of all correspondence. Our
privacy statement does not allow for sharing of personal information
outside of our organization. All information provided will be used only
for the purpose the user intended.
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