LIFE ON THE REFLUX ROLLER COASTER

Follow Shae-Lynne's mom through the excitement of her first pregnancy and the abounding joy of the birth of her beautiful baby girl. Joy quickly turns to frustration, fear, guilt and sorrow as she begins to realize there is something wrong with her perfect new bundle. Ride the reflux roller coaster with Roni as she struggles to survive the following months watching helplessly as her daughter starves herself, and suffers from uncontrollable vomiting, choking and failure to thrive. Desperately trying to get a diagnoses and finally a treatment for her beautiful little girl's suffering Roni begins to research believing if she studied enough she would find a solution. What she finds instead is a whole world of other children suffering just as Shae-Lynne does. Life on the Reflux Roller Coaster is a heartwarming, at times heartbreaking story that we can all learn from about surviving, and finding hope and joy through personal tragedy. Not only a powerful story, it's jammed full of important information about the devastating effects of reflux disease, as well as treatment options and support groups.

ISBN: 1-4137-0833-1, 191 pages, 6 x 9

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SOME REVIEWS

"It's wonderful! I loved it! Few people can tell such a personal story and not put others to sleep. On the contrary, I was eager to keep reading. It is hard for any outsider to conceive of the stress involved in caring for a child who suffers constant pain from acid reflux. From the moment Shae Lynne was born her symptoms screamed GERD, yet her mother and grandmother had to fight tooth and nail to get her a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. These two Mama Tigers do a wonderful job of showing exactly what life is like for Shae Lynne and those who love her. They understand, but won't accept, that the doctors can't find any answers. They sheathe their claws when talking about the frustration of dealing with doctors whose recommendations often make their precious baby sicker. But their frustration is obvious and overwhelming in the day-to-day account of trying to find help for Shae Lynne. Roni embodies the concept of a good mother who knows her child and trusts her instincts. Roni and Jean deserve Kudos, not only for their incredible dedication to helping Shae Lynne find relief from her pain, but also for sharing their always moving and sometimes hair-raising story with others. A must read for all professionals who come into contact with children who have GERD and their families."
~Beth Anderson, President/Founder PAGER, (Pediatric/Adolescent Gastro Esophageal Reflux Association)

"A heartwarming journey of a mother's love for her child, and the strength she has endured to help her daughter to get the most appropriate care possible. A great read, and well written. It tells the story from the heart, yet represents all the effects Gastro-Esophageal Reflux can have on an infant or child with Reflux, and the stress and strain it places on the parents and families. Being a parent with children who suffer this dreadful disease, I cried along with Roni through the bad times, smiled with the good. Roni helps us to see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, even though for some of us, our rainbow never ends. We live in hope, and treasure each new day as it comes. A very educational, yet inspirational read. I recommend it to any parent or family member with a child with Gastric Reflux."
~ Donna Ingram

"I am moved deeply by the emotional and physical suffering you, Shae-Lynn and your family has endured. As a mother who has experienced reflux (though certainly not as severe as your daughter's), and as a professional who has seen reflux in an ever-increasing numbers of babies, I second your call for more research into this disease. We need to know why reflux has become nearly epidemic, as well as how to treat reflux (and its companion disorders) effectively."
~ Amanda J. Fitzgerald, CCE, CD

"If you have never experienced GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease), this moving account from the mother's perspective can provide some insight and support for those parents who are experiencing GERD with their children. This moving story provides the naked truth about one of the most challenging parts of being a parent. The misery and exhaustion parents and children feel are painstakingly documented and brought to our attention. The good, the bad, and the ugly: the reflux roller coaster is a confusing maze of medical treatments, daily stress and sleepless nights...and loneliness as this disease is not well understood in either the lay or professional community. Read this book!"
~ Webmaster, BirthSource.com