angel-jd1

i hope you can stick through me using small letters. as some of you know i fractured a bone in my left elbow and i cannot raise that arm to use for typing. i am now a one finger typist.

i am asking for letters from anyone who feels that lynne has helped them with advice, her fantastic humor and even with her compassionateand giving nature. i will use these with my letter to the extreme makeover tv show. i am hoping we can get their attention in the first paragraph.

lynne was a physical therapist that did the needy for free, including foster children, because they fell through the cracks in some medical care. she volunteered at certain charities and made jewelry, floral arrangments and her scrap booking talents were donated for charity auctions.

she got remarried to a wonderful man 3 1/2 years ago. shortly after her wedding, her health started failing. 2 years ago she was told she had to be in a wheelchair full time due to the gluten ataxia. she got a wheelchair a year and a half ago, but it does her no good in the home. she has been told that she can not use a walker because it is not strong enough to support her in the manner she needs to be supported. also if she falls with the walker, her injuries would be greater then they are now.

their home was built in the 50's and has not been updated. it is a very very small home with small doorways that make using a wheelchair an impossibility. she used to love to cook and now she cannot. their tub is the older style with the shower head over it. she cannot use the shower as she cannot close her eyes or she falls. she has to wait until dave gets home from work to take a bath. she cannot get out of the tub without help. i helped her when we were in las vegas and it is like watching someone with severe ceribal palsey. her arms and legs are everywhere. she would love a shower where she could walk into, after she gets out of the wheelchair. sit down and use a lower handheld shower head so she could take a shower in the morning.

she loved to garden and had herbs that she used in her cooking. a couple of raised beds for her herbs and flowers would be great.

a room for her crafts, an accessable laundry room, a kitchen to cook in, a shower that she can use. she does not want a mansion, just a home that she can again feel like she is contributing to this 3 1/2 year marriage. these are things that most of us take for granted.

they do not have the money to move to a handicapped home. nor the money or space to make this home accessable for her. they have been trying to save for a used van that they could attach a ramp to, but not getting far because of the medical bills. they have already spent $7000 on her medicine co-pay and on batteries and a charger for the wheelchair. she has the co-pay on her many monthly visits to doctors. her insurance does not pay for the one and two visits a week to the physical therapist.

no one wants to take her to the doctors because the wheelchair's wheels and batteries have to come off and then everthing must be lifted into the trunk. each wheel weighs 20 pounds. so dave must leave work on a regular basis to get her to the doctor. this is not good for his job security. she would have volunteers' to take her if she just had to be wheeled up a ramp and anchor her in the van. she cannot drive, but others could drive the van.

she falls often and has broken bones and caused severe tissue damage. she fall last week and is seeing the doctor today to find out if she broke a hip and crushed a disc. at this rate she will severly injure herself and be in a nursing home. she is only 44 years old.

lynne and dave have OK'd an extreme makeover. now all we have to is get the network's attention. i have been watching this show and there is no doubt that she qualifies.

so, if anyone feels that they can contribute a letter to go with mine, please PM me and i will give you my email address. i need your letter in an attachment, so i can print it out. do not delete your letter from your computer. in case my limited computer skills prevent me from opening it. then i will give you my address to send the letter to.

thank you for taking the time to read this.

Lynne is an awesome lady. Last year while teaching in a low low income classroom, Lynne donated several items leftover from her practice. She sent my school kids stickers, sunglasses (that I used for their graduation program), bracelets, stampers, and tons of other stuff. She is such a kind and caring individual. I had no idea that her home was not accessable for her chair.

I'd be happy to write a letter, but I have no idea what TO write.........can somebody help me?

-Jessica

Hi Stephanie,

It's pinned in the Dining Out/Restaurants Forum--

Open Original Shared Link

Sounds like you had a great evening!

hahah you beat me to it, I pinned this post and looked up her post and you had it posted by the time I was back

-Jessica

I don't have any cookie recipes for you that are dairy free, but I wanted to say that a cookie swap sounds like so much fun!!! Let us know how it goes.

-Jessica

Thank goodness for this forum! It is a personal choice whether to eat a gluten stufffed bird, bring our own food or stay home. It is YOUR opinion to never eat a a gluten stuffed turkey. You are NOT a doctor or scientist and until a doctor or scientist posts on this subject (eating a gluten stuffed bird and cross contamination), let's not scare everyone into being deathly afraid of eating anywhere but at home. Too many times I have run into celiacs who read this forum and become frightened into thinking no food is safe to eat unless eaten at home. Please try to be more careful with your posts. We are all different in our tolerance levels. Enjoy the holidays!

There is not a tolerance level with gluten. Zero gluten is the level that you should be striving for here. There may be different tolerance levels when it come to actual side effects of eating gluten. However, gluten in your system (side effects or not) is doing damage.

I ask you to take your own advice and "Please try to be more careful with your posts". Advising people to eat gluten containing foods is not only not safe, but it's just plain rediculous!!

-Jessica

I dissagree! Every one of us knows how sensitive we are to gluten or cross contamination. I'm gluten free for over 10 years now and eat turkey that's been stuffed without one reaction. I ask for the first few top slices off the bird and have never had a problem. The previous posts will scare the pants off of newbies. We should all be careful of course, but anyone can and should navigate holiday dinners quite easily. I have friends cook dull dinners for me and have yet to suffer at all. Education children is the key. Educate your closest friends about gluten free and do not be afraid!

The previous posts may "scare the pants of of newbies", however they are correct. It is NOT safe to eat a stuffed bird. Contamination is too huge of a risk. You may have eaten a stuffed bird and felt "fine". However, most likely damage was still being done in your intestines due to the contamination.

Like you said, anyone can navigate a holiday dinner. However eating a gluten stuffed turkey isn't the way to go.

-Jessica

So.... how were they????

I saw these rolls on the gluten-free Mall today and was wondering if they were any good. Finding gluten-free baked goods that are also corn/egg/dairy-free is a challenge.

I have only eaten two rolls so far haha.

I took and cut them into 1/2 and made two tiny ham and cheese sandwiches out of them. Put them into the toaster oven to melt the cheese and make the rolls toasty. I thought they were pretty good this way. I'm looking forward to a hot turkey sandwich after thanksgiving

-Jessica

For all those folks searching for the pump. Pampered chef sells them. I have one and it's a handy thing to have. Just put in your favorite oil and pump pump pump.......no cfc's and no additivies. Healthy for the environment and you

-Jessica

Who eats Mission Corn tortillas?? Anyone not have problems? Just wanting to be sure I am not being gluttened by them.

Monica

I eat mission corn tortillas several times a week. I am very sensitive and easily notice my glutening symptoms. I have not had any trouble with them at all.

-Jessica

We live in the mid-west(mo)I'm finding it difficult to find gluten-free foods.

Do you have to order everything?She's 6 years old and very picky.

I'm finding this very difficult.

I'm not sure how close you are to KC. There is a Wild Oats on 119th. There is also a Whole Foods Market over by 95th on the Kansas side. Both are good places to pick up things.

Hy-Vee's are a great place to shop. They have a natural foods section with tons of gluten free foods.

A year or so ago Wal-Mart has started labeling their "Great-Value" brands if they are gluten free, look for it under the ingredient statement usually. They have also started carrying Sunstart Bakery gluten-free cookies and also Van's plain gluten-free waffles. (At least in my area in Kansas).

Like mentioned before, there are tons of natually gluten free foods.

The specialty items are where you run into the cost.

Try to keep it as simple as you can.

Some good "Kid friendly" things are:

Amy's rice crust pizza

Ian's Allergen free chicken nuggets

Ian's Allergen free fish sticks

Tinkayada Pasta and Velveeta cheese

Mission Corn tortillas topped with pizza sauce peparoni and cheese, bake in the toaster oven for 10-15 min.

Frito Lay Chips (see their website for a complete list of gluten free items)

Skippy Peanut butter

Jiff Peanut Butter

Kraft is a great brand, they will list any gluten containing ingredients right on the label

Blue Bunny IceCream (of course the obvious cookie, cake type ones are out)

Edy's IceCream (again the obvious ones with cookies and such are out)

Bryers(obvious cookie/cake varities are out)

Lunch Meat roll ups (hillshire farm lunch meat with kraft singles cheese rolled up)

Hope that gives you a small start.

-Jessica

I was told that Breyer's used to be ok but is no longer on the most recent list put out by CSA-but I don't actually own this list myself. Does anyone know? I heard it just changed, like this summer.

This info comes from the Bryer's website FAQ section:

Question

Do you have a list of gluten-free products?

Answer

* Unilever Ice Cream is a member of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network and the Food Allergy Resource and Research Program.

* We recommend consumers read the label each time before buying our product.

* If gluten is present, it is clearly listed in plain language on the ingredient label (i.e., wheat flour, rye, barley, oats, and malt).

* We do not publish a list of gluten-free flavors.

* We work closely with ingredient and packaging suppliers to verify gluten in all ingredient components including natural flavors, colors, and spices.

* Some flavorings may contain ethyl alcohol. However, because the alcohol is distilled, they would not pose a threat to anyone who is gluten intolerant.

* We apologize for any inconvenience, but it's the best and safest way for you to know.

Hope that helps

-Jessica

When I went to Outback they told me that it was some kind of premix stuff they added. They brought it to me and it add some weird questionable ingredients. I didn't even think it was gluten free.

If you are speaking about their garlic mashed potatoes, they ARE on the gluten free menu.

-Jessica

I don't live in a state with even one of the big health food stores. So it's slim pickings around here for daily shopping. But I was visiting out of state recently and found a new cookie in a Wild Oats. I am usually so cautious with what I buy and eat, that I'm almost afraid to mention it on here for fear that I have overlooked something. But these are individually wrapped large cookies and I bought 3 varieties: Ginger, Chocolate Crunch and Lemon. They are called Nana's No Gluten Cookie. They really taste GREAT and meet my very strict allergy requirements - no eggs, no dairy, no refined sugar, no gluten, no corn, no soy, no hydrogenated oils. They are even sweetened with fruit juice.

I guess I'm excited because I can find almost nothing premade that meets all my restrictions and actually TASTES GOOD at the same time.

Love Nana's cookies!!! My favorite is the lemon. The banana in the bar style are also very yummy. I agree, a bit expensive, but a fun treat for sometimes.

-Jessica

I work at Outback, but I don't know the recipe for anything. They're very secretive about that kind of stuff.

- Lauren

That's why you need to be our secret kitchen spy!!

-Jessica

Firstly, Mom is not celiac.

She just got out of the hospital yesterday after being in there for 6 days after having another attacked of diverticulitis (her second in 1 1/2 years). While in the hospital, they realized just how bad her lungs are (life-long smoker). She has COPD. They said she has lost 90% use of her lungs. She obviously stopped smoking when she went in the hospital and before she came home, I went over and aired out her place for a few days, cleared out all ashtrays, cigarettes, etc. She realizes now that she has no choice but to quit.

They also put her on two different antibiotics to finish the 10 day cycle of antibiotics (she was in the hospital for 6 days....) One of them is Cipro and the other one, I don't know the name of it, but it apparently targets stuff specifically in the intestines.

My question is: Mom has absolutely no appetite at all. She says she has a metallic taste in her mouth and makes all food taste yucky. Do you think the metallic taste is due to the strong antibiotics she is on? Is this something that is common with diverticulitis? Or is the metallic taste due to the fact that her lungs are now expelling all of the built up crap in her lungs?

Thanks!

Karen

Antibiotics like biaxin cause the metalic taste quite frequently. Most pharmacists recommend drinking some fruit juice with the medicine to get rid of the taste. I would double check with HER pharmacist to be sure that that paticular antibiotic doesn't have any reactions with the fruit juice

-Jessica

Ok I will. I am out of computer paper.... I cannot print this out. I'm afraid to lose it again. I suppose a pencil and paper will have to do. I don't know if I can remember how to actually write.

Oh my goodness! You are still a member? That was 2004! Well, amazing! And amazing cookie!

haha, Ya still here after all these years Try copy and pasting and e-mailing it to yourself. Then print it out when you can

-Jessica

When I was not a member, I saw this recipe a long time ago. I should have posted then, but am posting now. This is a very good cookie. I used it for a long time but have since lost it. I didn't think I'd ever find it again. It was just here, just like that! I didn't even get frustrated looking for it. I am going to make them right now. To the woman who posted this recipe... it is very good. Thankyou.

You're welcome, they are a favorite of mine!!

-Jessica

This weekend we tried:

red potatoes boiled with skin on.

Put the garlic in the water to boil and mashed it into the taters

Added cream cheese and milk

Whipped with an electric mixer. It was good, but wasn't exactly the outback recipe. I am on the hunt!! haha OOOOOOOhhhhh Lauuuuurrreeeennnnnnnnn MMMMmmm!!! Come and be my secret outback spy!!

-Jessica

I know there is someone out there who has worked at outback and KNOWS

the recipe for their SUPER yummy garlic mashed potatoes. Shhhhh I won't tell that you spilled the beans on the recipe. Please please pleaseeeeeeee let me know how to make them!!!

Also applebee's garlic mashed recipe would be yummy too, they also have

killed garlic mashed taters.

I just can't seem to replicate the recipe at home!!! HELP!!

-Jessica

Nope their fries are not safe. They are fried with other glutney foods. Like Jayhawkmom said, they have a great list online. I would advise to check that out to see what your other options are

-Jessica

Congrats!! I remember that 1 year mark. It is such a great feeling. Celebrate with some gluten-free brownies or something

-Jessica

Publicity in a well known magazine..............sounds like a good thing to me!! I'll have to see if I can get ahold of a copy.

Thanks for sharing.

-Jessica

How was Dr. Fine's talk? Did he mention his research publication?

I was going to find this thread and ask the same thing. I was unable to go but wanted to know how it went!! Fill us in Jayhawkmom

-Jessica

When we got home & was sorting good & bad treats he started to laugh when we got to the crackers...Then he said " I don't think she was a very smart lady"... Out of the mouths of babes...... I really wanted to agree...

mamaw

That is soooooo cute!!! I think I would get along great with this little one!! haha Thanks for sharing that story. It made my day!!

-Jessica

Hi am new to the board and new to the thinking I may need to switch to a gluten-free lifestyle. I live in Kansas in Derby just south of Wichita.

Robin

Welcome to the board

-Jessica

Sounds great, but considering the bacon, butter and ranch, how is it a healthy alternative to stuffing?

MMmmmm Bacon......butter......ranch.......