Hi ladies,

As most of you know, Allegheny Hospital is doing their "Spit on GERD" campaign, which is a research study looking into family history and genetics and how they play a role in reflux/related problems in children.

I called today to update some information and Mary, the fabulously nice receptionist, told me that they are severely lacking in participants. She literally only gets one or two phone calls a MONTH about this study. If we want to figure out this nasty disease, we really all need to participate. I urge you, PLEASE call this number and ask for your kit. All you have to do is fill out some forms giving your child's history and family history and swish some mouthwash to send in as a DNA sample. All samples are kept ONLY as part of this study and not used anywhere else.

BTW--Mary said that she was inundated with pamphlets from our very own Grammy Jean (Yay Jean!) and she sends out an IRD pamphlet with every new test kit. :smt041 :hug: :yahoo:

Please, if you haven't already done so, please call this number and talk to Mary about the study:
1-888-887-7729

Also, if you participated already and you've moved, had another baby, etc., please call her and update your information.

Thanks, guys! :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

This is awesome - I just called and my kit is in the mail. Also, becuase my parent are right across the road, and I got to talking with "Mary", and because I had such nasty heartburn, and my mom had such nasty heartburn when she was preggo with both myself and my sister, they are sedning test kits for them as well, as she stated that they are interested in testing how it might come right on down the family tree.

Thank you Mary!!!! (and the other Mary, that I got to talk too, was very sweet as well!)

Well if they sent the kits out they might have more participants. I've requested it twice now and still no kit.

I did it last year with Sebastian and it was really easy. I never even thought about calling her now that we have Emma. I will give her a call right now.

I'm calling for it!!

Well if they sent the kits out they might have more participants. I've requested it twice now and still no kit.

I'm so sorry you've had trouble, Lena. :-( If you're still interested, call and talk to Mary again and let her know you didn't get the kits you requested. She may be able to Fed Ex them instead of sending them regular mail. :hug:

I will call tomorrow and get a kit. My dad has reflux, I have reflux, so naturally Brenna has reflux. I am a firm believer that this is genetic.

I am sooooo interested in doing this! I am calling tomm morning to get a kit!

Thanks Mary I am going to call tomorrow morning. My mom said me my sister and my brother had it when we were babies. My Ken has it and so does my fil.

Mary, you are the BEST....but you know that.

I will definitely call the 'other' Mary and of course send more IRD brochures..lol.
I have often thought about this 'spit test' and wondered what happened.

WHY doesn't someone contact the media...a magazine...Dr. Phil, Oprah...somebody, something :smt041 :razzing:

I have said so many times..this is so important.

Mary, thank you so much and seriously I will definitely be calling MARY tomorrow

:hug:

WHY doesn't someone contact the media...a magazine...Dr. Phil, Oprah...somebody, something :smt041 :razzing:

I
:hug:

GO CHECK OUT MY NEW POST!!! :yahoo:

i just called for my kit. I passed along the number to all my refluxing friends too!:party0049:

I am also going to call and request a couple for the boys! Thanks Mary.

lol...i just sent an email for a "idea for a show" to Oprah. Wouldn't that be great if she could help!!! I also just called for my kit. An allergist once told me about a place in Chicago that does genetic testing for reflux. It would be a trip for us so we never really looked into it. But hey if we get on the Oprah show maybe we could schedule an appt then while we are in Chicago :) Well we can just keep our fingers crossed and hope someone big will be willing to help out!

I just talked to Mary and she's sending a bunch of kits - me, Josh, dh, my mom, my sister. She said she's getting tons of calls this week. WTG Mary! :)

I'm going to post on my local playgroup board about it too, as I know lots of other moms there deal with reflux too.

Thanks, Mary!!! I will be calling for my kit in the am! Dh is definitely the family link.

Mary - I sticky'd this too. :)

I called Mary and offered my brochures. She has been sending out photocopies she said.

Is this study only open to residents of the USA? I'm interested in being apart of this study but live in Canada, can I still call and get a kit sent to me?

That's a good question...I don't know. Mary, the person who handles sending out info packets, is a very nice lady. Give her a call and see if you can participate. :-)

I will call today as well. My mom said I had it as a baby as well.

Thanks, I'll give a call and see if the study is open to anyone or just to residents in the USA. This study is very interesting, I was doing some research on the web and there really is no explanation why some babies develop GERD and others don't. I believe it is linked to genetics just by seeing the members of our support group their babies (and siblings) with GERD. My mother told me I was a colic baby and my husband was too. My mother-inlaw and her sister have always had acid reflux issues....though I'm not sure if it's caused by their diet?! My husband and I are thinking of having a second child, so I'm prepared that this child will also have a form of GERD.

Just wanted to tell people that the study is still going on and it is open to residents in Canada.....sorry, I didn't ask about non-North American residents. If people are having trouble contacting Mary by phone and would like to be a candidate in the study, her email address is motoole@wpahs.org. Best to place The Spit on 'GERD' Campaign in the subject box when emailing her so she knows what to expect when opening her mail.

I will definitely be calling Mary to get that test kit.My son has GERD BAD.Seizures,global developmental delays,sometimes a silent aspirator,aspirates all the time,and most of the time its the acid reflux.He also has low muscle tone.

Is it open to Canadians?

Yes, it is! :-)

Hi ladies,

As most of you know, Allegheny Hospital is doing their "Spit on GERD" campaign

This is great! How long are they doing this for? If it's still going on I'll call this afternoon :happy3: