Such sweet sorrow…

[Anonymous]

I wasn’t exactly sure where to post this since it’s not exactly a “reflux-related” topic. I hope that enough people actually read this section to see the post.

With a mixture of joy and sadness I must tell you all that I will not be with the MARCI-Kids team very much longer. My wife and I will be moving to Philadelphia in August where we will both be studying at Westminster Theological Seminary.

Although it was not an official part of my job with the University of Missouri, I have very much enjoyed monitoring and posting on this message board. It has been so encouraging to witness a community that looks after each other’s needs so well and is always there to support one another.

I hope that the information that I have passed along to you all over the past couple of years has been helpful to you and I hope that you will continue to educate one another and your doctors. The facts will eventually win out over rumor and proud ignorance.

I will be training up a replacement for my position over the next couple of months and I will try to give him/her as much information as possible to help any of you who needs it. But I cannot guarantee that they will have either the time or ability to answer the posts on this board. However, if you send an email to info@marci-kids.com it should get answered by someone knowledgeable. I will still be answering emails until the first part of August, 2006.

In addition, we are trying our best to make some major updates and additions to the MARCI-Kids website, which should provide much more thorough information and answers than what is there now. Hopefully this will reduce the need to email your questions to us. I will let you know as soon as these new pages are up and running.

In the meantime, please feel free to email myself (andrewsjj@health.missouri.edu) or the rest of the MARCI-Kids team (info@marci-kids.com) with any questions or needs that you have. We also love to hear updates and success stories from you.

Those of you who hang around here and answer questions for newbies (even though some of you are no longer dealing with reflux yourselves) provide a tremendous service to your fellow parents and my hat is off to you. Please continue to point people in the right direction and comfort the afflicted. It has been a pleasure getting to know so many of you and I wish all of you and your families the very best.

[Anonymous]

I want to say thank you for everything that you have provided. My daughter is reflux free because of the knowledge I have received from you and the marci kids website. The information that I have learned has provided my daughter with relief and words can not explain how grateful I am b/c like most I was not getting the help I needed from my ped. Again, Thank you for caring about us and providing us with the resourses to help our children. I am very sad to see you go but I wish you all the luck in your new endeavors!!!

[Anonymous]

Joel,

Oh my goodness; all I can say is I “knew” that you just had to be Christian man becuase of your willingness to help people who so desperately need help. Thank you so much for helping me to get my little boy the help he needed when he was in so much pain. I will always be so grateful to you for that. God bless you! And good luck with your theological studies. Surely God will use you in other places to help people as you have done here. You will be missed!

Christine

[Anonymous]

First my daycare lady (who I loved and today was her last day) and now Joel – how much more am I going to be able to take today

Joel: you have been such an inspiration to me. Even though helping those on this board may not have been part of you “job” you so unselfishly gave of your time, knowledge and comfort to help those on this board. I will never forget when you actually called me at home to help us out at one of our worst times. You really don’t know how much that meant to my husband, my family and myself. I have several “packets” of the marci-kids info that I keep handy to distribute to anyone that I feel should have the info. Even to convince one doctor is great, and I wouldn’t be able to convince them without your help. I only hope that whoever comes on board after you at Marci-kids will have half of the compassion you have for those of us on this board. Someone can step into the job but never replace you!!

Best of luck in your new adventure and God bless you in your new location and direction in life!!

Robin

[Anonymous]

Joel,

Words cannot express my gratitude for all that you have done for Hailey and I. You have been such an angel to me and the people on this board, giving your time and compassion through some very hard times. You have always gone out of your way, and far beyond the call of duty. I truly don’t know where I would be right now without your support and guidance. You have given me and my daughter a better life.

I am so sad to see you go, but you truly deserve all the best that life has to offer. I hope that your new journey brings you and your wife much happiness. You are a special person, and your good deeds will surely come back to you one day. I feel as if you are such a special member of this community, so please don’t be a stranger… Check back in with an update or two if you ever get a chance. The knowledge that you have imparted remain in this forum to help others even though you are moving on. I will do my best to teach others what you have taught me.

Best of luck with your move. God bless you.

Lori and Hailey

[Anonymous]

Joel- I had the feeling you were too much of a people person to be be a “lab rat” (I use the term endearingly… been there!) for but so long. Best of luck to you and your wife with seminary. Thanks for all the help.

[Anonymous]

Joel,

What a blessing you have been to so many of us. Andrew is now only on prevacid tabs, but I truely could not have manged his early medications without your input on timing.

Thank you so very much. What a wonderful adventure you and your wife are headed on. You must check in with us once in awhile and let us know where God places you. Who knows one of us just might get to meet one of our angels sooner than later.

Blessings and Bunchs of Thanks,

Susan and Andrew

[Author]

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