GI Motility Disorders Unit

Anneliese

Gastroparesis Australia was founded by Anneliese Defreitas Alarcon. She created GP Aus after suffering from gastroparesis, then needing a nasojejunal tube, repeat surgeries, and the experience of constant nausea, pain, and vomiting. (“All of it.”)

There was little information on gastroparesis and few health professionals really understood the disease. Anneliese thought this all needed to change. Less stressful. Fun, even. Why can’t patients band together to support each other and directly campaign awareness? Someone’s gotta do it anyway. She started this foundation with patients to support patients. And Gastroparesis Australia was born.

The Facebook support groups Gastroparesis Australia and Inside Story offered patients and carers a safe environment to network and share information. This website was built to be THE information hub for gastroparesis patients around Australia.

They partnered with Dr Vincent Ho and his team at Western Sydney University and Campbelltown Hospital (NSW) to support research that was shaped by patient concerns.

To date they have:

Our support groups have 1,000+ active GP warriors around Aus and beyond!
Created information packs that are handed out at hospitals and clinics
In collaboration with Rotary Devonport they helped fund not one BUT TWO PhD scholarships for gastroparesis research
Engaged with WSU researchers to be involved in their clinical trials and surveys
Presented at the 2018 Australian Symposium for Gastroparesis to over 150 clinical professionals

Anneliese Defreitas Alarcon was diagnosed with gastroparesis in 2009 after years of chronic nausea and pain, previously dismissed as a viral illness or food poisoning. Frequently in and out of hospital, home often felt like more of a holiday than her regular residence. She manages her gastroparesis with an NJ (nasojejunal) tube and a surgically implanted ‘gastric pacemaker’. But continues to battle the physical and mental symptoms.

Anneliese lived in Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia with her two young daughters. She created Gastroparesis Australia to tell the world about her disease and connect with other patients. And now her group has grown far beyond that! And you too can join the community.

Sadly Anneliese passed away in August of 2018. But her passion to find a cure for gastroparesis lives on in the GP Aus community. She was there for all her members, motivating them to continue their fights against the disease. Anneliese leaves behind her legacy, Gastroparesis Australia, and her inspiration to continue the fight against gastroparesis.

Help us finish the fight against gastroparesis once and for all. A special memorial fund has been setup in accordance with Anneliese’s wishes, with all proceeds going towards gastroparesis research.

If you would like to donate click HERE

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Postal Address

Locked Bag 1797
Penrith NSW 2751

Tel: +61 2 9852 5222
ABN 53 014 069 881
CRICOS Provider No: 00917k