The agmdhope’s Podcast

AGMD Inspiring Patient | Caregiver Series Featuring Julie Martinez, Parent Of Child With CIPO - April 2015

The Association of Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders, Inc. (AGMD) is proud to present this month's Inspiring Patient/Caregiver Series featuring Julie Martinez, a parent of a child with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.
During the program, Julie will chronicle her moving story and will also read some poignant excerpts from her upcoming book.
Any parent, patient or caregiver will find this program to be greatly inspiring and educational.
Julie lives with her husband of 25 years and their 14-year-old daughter Elise. She worked 13 years in the medical field and currently works part-time at a nonprofit HUD agency as a housing counselor-advocator and instructor on financial education and assistance programs for homeowners, especially in cases of hardship. Julie has turned her passion into authoring a soon to be published book and volunteering for AGMD to educate and draw more awareness of CIPO and many of the challenges that are endured by those impacted by chronic illness.

AGMD Inspiring Patient | Caregiver Series Sammy Konigsberg - April- 2017

The Association of Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders, Inc. (AGMD) is privileged to present our Inspiring Patient | Caregiver program featuring 16-Year-Old Samantha Konigsberg.
Ever since she was little, Sammy had GI problems, however, they got significantly worse at the age of twelve. She has Neuronal Intestinal Dysplasia, and has had three surgeries and four obstructions within the past four years. Sammy no longer has her colon and is doing much better now. She also struggles with Juvenile Arthritis, Von Willebrand's disease, and chronic migraines.
Sammy has been acting since she was 5-years-old and it's one of her favorite things to do. She's grown up with music and listens to it 24/17. Recently, she has been spending most of her time on inVISABLE, a social media platform that she launched for chronically ill teens and young adults. It's currently an Instagram page, but she is also in the midst of coding an app for it. She really wants to be able to provide a place for the chronically ill community to connect and share their stories in a positive light.
AGMD is honored to have Sammy as a new volunteer and we are privileged to interview such an extraordinary young lady.  
Don't miss this program!  You are sure to be inspired!

An Open Telephone Conversation: Hirschprung’s Disease Featuring Dr. Allan Goldstein - April 2011

AGMD presents Dr. Allan Goldstein, Director of the Pediatric Neurogastroenterology Program at Mass. General Hospital, Marshall K. Bartlett Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Mass. General Hospital, and Surgeon-in-Chief of MassGeneral Hospital for Children. Dr. Goldstein Directs a basic science research lab that focuses on the enteric nervous system. His area of research relates to Hirschsprung disease. We are honored to talk with Dr. Goldstein in this Open Telephone Conversation Focused on Hirschsprung's Disease.

Problems And Limitations Associated With The Gastric Emptying Study - January 2018

Melissa Adams VanHouten will be discussing the usefulness and limitations of the Gastric Emptying Study (GES), a procedure commonly performed to evaluate and diagnose gastroparesis.  We will review the recommended standards; address issues associated with preparation, variation in procedure, and result interpretation; discuss the emotional impact of sometimes confusing and upsetting outcomes; and offer tips for advocating for your best care.

Special AGMD Hope Radio Guest, April "Glitter Queen" Talks About Coping With The Holidays - November 2017

The holidays can be extremely stressful for those who are healthy. But for those suffering from digestive motility disorders, it can be paralyzing. The added stress of trying to get even more things done, the enhanced emphasis on food and social functions, the added financial burdens, the pressure of trying to measure up to expectations, juggling medical appointments or enduring hospitalizations, all the while, struggling with a multitude of unpredictable symptoms, can greatly impair the patient's health and lead to a cornucopia of emotions.
This program will discuss many of these issues and will provide tips for getting through the holidays.

An Open Conversation About Coping With The Unpredictable Nature Of Digestive Motility Disorders

AGMD Hope radio show features an open conversation about Coping With The Unpredictable Nature Of Digestive Motility Disorders hosted by Maryangela DeGrazia-DiTucci and Brittany Neal.

An Interview With 8th Grader Lillian Kay VanHouten - Daughter Of A Gastroparesis Patient And Advocate - March 2018

Listen to a candid interview of Lillian Kaye VanHouten as we talk about what it's like being a daughter of a gastroparesis patient and advocate. The program promises to be enlightening and inspiring!
Lillian Kaye VanHouten is the daughter of Melissa Adams VanHouten, a Gastroparesis patient and advocate.  Lilly is an eighth-grade honors student at a Lutheran middle school who enjoys drawing, writing, singing, and acting, and who would like to pursue a career in the entertainment field and/or zookeeping (as she has a passion for animals, especially giraffes).  She helps her mother cope with the sometimes-difficult world of chronic illness and advocates on her behalf whenever she can. 

Special Guest Carrie Meckstroth Talks About Functional GI & Motility Disorders - May 2018

Carrie is a wife, mother of 3, student finishing up my MPA at UCCS & I also have a part time job. But her passion is advocating for all Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders (FGIMD), especially pediatric patients. Her youngest son has multiple FGIMDs & she has IBS-C. In 2016  Carrie started Weston's World (FGIMD- Functional GI & Motility Disorders).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/545456308959231/
Carrie is also a volunteer & parent mentor for AGMD, an Awareness Ambassador for IFFGD, & also a group moderator on AGMDs group on Inspire. She has requested & obtained State of Michigan FGIMD Awareness proclamations 3 years in a row from Gov. Rick Snyder. Her goal is to help educate & spread awareness throughout the medical community and the general public so that more people struggling with FGIMDs can get proper care, diagnosis & treaments in a timely manner.
AGMD is grateful to Carrie for her dedication, advocacy, education, awareness and heart. Her passion is evident and her openess to share her knowledge and personal life as a patient and mother of a child with FGIMDs is beyond appreciated and inspiring.