Please take a moment to view the testimonials we received via email and letters. You can also view online testimonials submitted by parents through this website by clicking "View Guestbook" below.
Thanks for visiting!
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December 27, 2011
Dear Dr. Lupatkin,
On this day after Christmas, I am compelled to share that, thanks to the skill and hard work of a team of medical professionals, my family enjoyed the greatest of Christmas gift we ever could have hoped for -- my son, Lucas, eating… and eating… and eating. On December 23, Lucas completed treatment at the Penn State Hershey Feeding Program. The next day, for Christmas Eve dinner, to everyone’s delight, Lucas ate shrimp cocktail, sausage, several helpings of broccoli, 3 bowls of soup, an adult-sized portion of pasta with seafood sauce, etc., etc. We actually had to cut him off. The looks on the faces of Lucas’ grandparents and aunts/uncles were priceless. Nobody could believe their eyes. And, two days later, I’m still smiling. None of this could have happened without Nancy Calamusa of New Jersey Pediatric Feeding Associates (in New Brunswick), Dr. Keith Williams of the Penn State Hershey Feeding Program, and Katherine Riegel, M.A. of the Penn State Hershey Feeding Program. Well before Lucas started at the Penn State Hershey Feeding Program, Nancy Calamusa did what St. Joseph’s and Early Intervention simply couldn’t – she literally taught Lucas to chew, and she did it with the utmost confidence, professionalism, and care. She built the very foundation upon which Lucas would eventually grow, and she steered us in the right direction (to Hershey) to address his behavioral feeding issues when circumstances required a swift resolution. Nancy and the results that she delivered gave us hope after a terrible and discouraging few months at St. Joseph’s. Without her, we would have been completely lost. At Nancy’s recommendation, we enrolled Lucas in the intensive day program at the Penn State Hershey Feeding Program to address lingering behavioral feeding issues. She was right on with that recommendation. Dr. Williams and Kathy are a formidable team that transformed our (severely) picky-eater son into a happy, healthy eater. I had planned to take significant time off from work in order to observe Lucas’ therapy, but after just two days, I knew with certainty that my presence was not needed. Lucas was in the right hands, at the right facility, and they clearly knew what they were doing. Why did I feel this way? Because every question had a swift and confident answer. Because when I asked whether Dr. Williams and Kathy felt like they could help Lucas, they gave a little smirk and said, “absolutely.” Because it was clear that whatever challenges Lucas brought were ones that they had seen before and overcome (in kids with far greater issues). And, finally, because Kathy started delivering results as early as day 2. So, I went home, and returned only here and there because I missed my wife and son, not to stay on top of the therapy. The results kept coming and coming, and culminated in the best Christmas ever. We will always remember the little, unassuming building in Hershey next to the gas station – among other things, it’s where Christmas magic is made. I know that any patients of your office with feeding issues would be thrilled to work with Nancy (in NJ), Dr. Williams (in PA), and Kathy (in PA). Having also experienced St. Joseph’s and Early Intervention, I know that there’s no better choice. Happy Holidays,Vincent Antoniello
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November 18, 2011
Dear Nancy,
Our journey together goes back a long way. My daughter, Swathi, is 11 years old now. But we have known you for about 10 years. You turned her life around not once but twice. Having diagnosed with a life threatening disorder which ended Swathi with a gtube placement, we almost lost hope that she couldn't eat anything by mouth. But, you proved it wrong. Through your expertise, empathy, compassion, and dedication to treating even the sickest children, you made her eat for pleasure. What that meant to our family was when everyone else was eating, Swathi would taste food too rather than just the machine pump formula to her stomach. Those sessions not only were therapeutic for Swathi, but also for myself. Being a new mother who was lost in the world of disability, you guided me in the right direction in connecting me with other parents who were of enormous help.
Fast forward 9 years, and we needed you again because Swathi was diagnosed with a serious GI condition that left her unable to eat by mouth for two years, and she failed the swallow study. Swathi's GI refused to recommend any other therapist even though she knew that your schedule was full. You made a slot available for Swathi, worked your magic with the help of vital stim, and here Swathi is eating a like champion after she passed the swallow study with flying colors all in a matter of less than three months. This would not have been possible without you, and I don't know how to thank you enough for your knowledge, care, and kindness. You are an angel on earth for children like Swathi. I wish continued success to your practice.
Priya.
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October 2011,
Our beautiful daughter was fed by nasogastric tube from birth. She was and remains a mystery to all medical staff; a normal baby developing as she should but with an unsafe swallow. It was a devastating conundrum and as a mother, at the time, I researched the internet obsessively, day and night looking for answers. That’s how I found Nancy, ‘a feeding expert’. There was something about Nancy Calamusa that spoke to me above all the rest as the USA is full of feeding experts, an area not so common over here in the UK. I sent her lots of difficult questions to answer and when I read her replies, my gut feeling was go to Nancy. Within 2 weeks of discharge from Hospital, my whole family uprooted from Scotland to come to New Jersey for 3 months to work with Nancy on an intervention programme when my daughter was 4 and a ½ months old. Nancy’s intervention programme sent her on a challenging journey that saw her tube free and orally feeding on thickened fluids and soft food within a month of returning home. I can hand on heart say we would not be where we are today with our daughter as an oral feeder, had we not met Nancy Calamusa. There were and continue to be, ups and downs along the way, extreme highs, extreme lows, many unknowns, but through it all, Nancy has stayed by our side, working with us for our daughter’s progress, never abandoning our hope that one day she would eat safely by mouth, giving tips on what to do, the steps to take in her feeding skills during treatment and long after when we returned home. Nancy is a one off; she is extremely wise in the field of infant feeding/swallowing, very generous with her knowledge and time, and she has a huge heart that genuinely cares and cries for the kids she treats. Her service is second to none. I see Nancy as the original pioneer who pulled the tube from my daughter and set her adrift on a self healing course, destination, the freedom and joy to eat by mouth. Thank you Nancy for all your kindness to our family and helping our daughter during a very dark phase in our lives.
With kindest wishes from,
Ella’s mum and dad, Scotland
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Dear Nancy,
June 15, 2011
If there were words in this world that I could put to paper they still wouldn't be sufficient to explain the gratitude I have in my heart. Facing the real possiblity of having a G-tube inserted for my daughter was frightening. I understood all of the doctors and specialists but what I didn't understand was how this could be happening to my beautiful girl. How could I fail my daughter? How come I can't get her to eat? How did I let this get this far? How come everyone kept telling me "don't worry she's a picky eater;" and "she will eat just do this or that."
As I told you, I was referred by my doctor to a large center in north Jersey. After speaking with them I realized that this would not be the best choice for my daughter or my family. I am SO happy we researched and found YOU!!! I remember saying to you when we spoke that I didn't know there were people who did what you do. I was amazed at the wealth of knowledge you had and I always left your office more educated and confident. I cannot believe in 3 SHORT months how everything has changed!!!! Katherine was challenging but you were persistent and gained her trust and in 2 sessions she was placing new foods in her mouth. The day she drank 4 ounces of milk and completed 1/2 of sandwich blew me away! THAT WAS SESSION 6! I know my documenting her every achievement must have made you crazy but I am so glad I did because I can now share her progress with others. I want people to know that when they feel hopeless and at the end of their ropes there is HOPE. You gave us that; you supported us; you gave us strength; and you cared...genuinely cared about my daughter! For all of those things I will be eternally grateful. I thank you, my family thanks you, and most of all Katherine thanks you for your love and true belief in her!
MW
Boonton, NJ
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Hi Nancy and Yichien,
Just wanted to thank you so much again for helping us and to also give you an update on Alex. That day after we saw you on Monday, he took in about 5 ounces while awake. I was really excited but didn't want to get my hopes too high yet. On Tuesday - 12 ounces and yesterday, he took about 16 ounces,all while awake. I have also been feeding him the rice ceral during dinner and he is enjoying it so far. We are all really happy/extremely excited that he is making progress. Thank you so much!
Thank you for working with us and I truly appreciate everything you have done for us. It is refreshing to find professionals that care so much about my child. I am so very excited that we have averted the tube! Words cannot express our gratitude for that you both have done.
Kind Regards,
Mei Poon
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"You are my last hope......"
Diana was born with tuberous sclerosis which caused her to have seizures and be severly delayed in physical and mental development. When she was at the age where eating by instinct became eating by learning, Diana contracted RSV. After she recovered from RSV, she was unable to eat food or swallow liquids so she had to be tube fed through her stomach.
Diana had many feeding therapists try to get her to eat and she was evaluated by a "highly acclaimed feeding insitute," but Diana still could not eat or drink and I was resigning myself to the fact the she would have to be tube fed for the rest of her life.
We were lucky enough to have Nancy enter our lives when I was out of hope. Nancy knew that Diana could eat even through she refused to open her mouth. Nancy's experience and resourcefulness overcame Diana's fear and aversion to eating. With Diana's history of aspiration pneumonia, the school staff was afraid to feed her by mouth.
It took a battery of tests, phone calls and meetings to have the school staff feed Diana, but Nancy made sure that nothing was going to impede Diana's success. Nancy's training of the school staff to feed Diana enabled them to begin feeding Diana on a daily basis. Diana will now actually open her mouth food, feed herself, and reach for food items indicating that she would like a bite.
It was a long road and Nancy is the "ultimate cheerleader." She never gives up!! Whenever Diana took the tiniest bite or did the tiniest shadow of a swallow (which was difficult to see at first) she would give a great cheer and provide Diana with such adulation that it would encourage me to keep on trying and hoping. I felt that not only were our sessions with Nancy for Diana's benefit, but also my own. It was Nancy's "heart" and knowledge that got us where we are today. Eating!
Nancy was able to accomplish what no other therapist, doctor, or specialized acclaimed feeding institute could. She fixed my Diana and made her learn how to eat and actually like eating!
Fran Trischetta
Mother of Diana Trischetta
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"I firmly believe that what makes her exceptional at feeding therapy is her intense understanding of the processes involved and her passion for her patients. "
In my role as a Neonatologist, I have the opportunity to interact with many professionals and people involved in all aspects of children’s rehabilitation. I have worked at five different academic university hospital centers in the Tristate Area and never have I met a feeding therapist with the level of understanding of the anatomy and physiology involved in their area of interest that Nancy has. I firmly believe that what makes her exceptional at feeding therapy is her intense understanding of the processes involved and her passion for her patients. I regret that she is no longer working with me in a hospital setting because it makes my job that much harder to be with out her knowledge and expertise in the unit, but I know her services are needed in an outpatient setting where she continues to provide excellent care for her patients . I am a big fan and support all the work she does to help those children who need it most.
Sincerely,
David Sorrentino MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Drexel University College of Medicine
Department of Pediatrics
Division of Neonatology
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"Yichien has given us hope!"
Yichien is a wonderful and enthusiastic feeding therapist. In very short weeks she introduced my son to many new food types. She was able to accomplish a lot with my son. I am grateful for her wondefull work and patience with my son and would absolutely recommend her for any kid having feeding issues.
Mostafa father of Omar
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"I am writing to thank you so much for providing my son Jerry with your excellent feeding and speech therapy and kind care."
We were very fortunate to get to know your professional services this spring when our school district asked you to evaluate Jerry's development in the areas of feeding and speech. Jerry is a four year, nine month old boy with a much premature birth and other complicated medical history. He had serious development delay in feeding and speech. Before he got therapy at your clinic, he cannot chew or eat solid foods. He often vomitted. He did not speak much, and his pronunciation was not clear or correct. From June of 2009, Jerry started to receive your therapy services at your clinic, once a week. With your efficient and professional techniques and methods, Jerry has made very significant progress in feeding and speech so far. Now he can use teeth to chew solid foods such as cookies and cooked chicken. He can tolerate enough amount of foods and does not vomit. He speaks more words with much improved pronunciation. As Jerry continues to get your great care, he will catch up with other kids in the near future and get ready for his regular academic learning. I really much appreciate your excellent care and help.
With best wishes!
Gaifa Lai
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"Your genuine excitement during every step of Gabriella’s progress was contagious and motivated Gabriella to thrive."
Dear Nancy,
I feel so fortunate that my doctor recommended for my daughter, Gabriella, to see you for feeding therapy. When we first met you, Gabriella was 8 months old and refused to drink from a bottle. She relied on her feeding tube for virtually all of her nutritional needs. Now, thanks to all your efforts and guidance, Gabriella is eating and drinking just like any other child her age!
Throughout our feeding sessions, you were a constant source of information and offered me the emotional and therapeutic support that I needed to help me through this most difficult time in my life. You recognized my anxiety about watching Gabriella struggle to eat and drink. Your positive attitude, extensive advice, and sincere encouragement turned constant mealtime struggles into pleasant mealtimes for both Gabriella and me.
You were our biggest cheerleader every time we came into your office! Your sincere love for children and your desire to help every child reach their utmost feeding potential was apparent during each of our sessions. Your genuine excitement during every step of Gabriella’s progress was contagious and motivated Gabriella to thrive. Thanks to you, Nancy, Gabriella now LOVES to eat! She is able to join in our family dinners, enjoy birthday parties, and eat at restaurants just like we have always dreamed!!!
Nancy, we love you and thank you for all of your constant support and encouragement; you’ve changed our lives forever!!!
Love,
Robyn , Chaim, and Gabriella
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Dear Nancy,
Where do I start? The moment we talked on the phone I knew you were going to be the right person to help me, help Kyle. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated your support and commitment to help us. Working with you for the past three and a half months has been a gift that I could never repay.
In the beginning Kyle’s challenges overwhelmed me. I was depressed and I dreaded every feeding, feeling paralyzed and fearful when he would reject eating (or the way I internalized it, reject me). But you helped me over come all the obstacles in MY WAY. You have helped me earn my son’s trust and how you have taught me I can myself as a mother (and lower my shoulders so that people can see my ears)!
It took so long for me to find someone who understood what I had been going through that now, it’s hard for me to let go of this relationship. Knowing that I could count on you for ideas, tricks and gizmos to help Kyle was something I looked forward to each week. I know that “your work here is done” but none the less difficult to know that I will not have your motivating kick in the ass to push me along week to week!
Nancy, I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for us. I realize that you meet A LOT of people and I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to be the emotional support for all of us, when you have a life of your own. You are a beautiful person and have a true gift for helping people. I am thankful every day that I met you and that you put the time and effort into helping us when we needed it the most.
If you ever need ANYTHING, the “Rear’s” are here for you. I hope that you will stay in touch. I would love to keep this relationship. Who knows, maybe I will be able to give something back to you, as a friend.
With love,
Tina
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Nancy,
Many people come in and out of our lives, but only few hold a special place in our hearts.
Christa had feeding issues since birth. She cried through every feeding and eventually by 7 weeks old was refusing her bottle altogether. She had been diagnosed by the pediatrician as failure to thrive and having severe reflux.
She was referred to a pediatric GI specialist who put her on 3 different meds daily. Her formula was changed 4 times. Nothing helped. She was still not gaining weight and was not growing.
The specialist suggested admitting Christa in the hospital for further testing and that it was now time to put her on a feeding tube. She also suggested that I take her to see Nancy, a feeding specialist.
I walked in to the appointment with many different emotions. Within minutes, Nancy knew that her problem was coordinating her suck, swallow, breathe and poor muscle tone. She changed the nipple on her bottle, showed me a better way of holding her and she then started drinking. I immediately started crying tears of joy and relief. This was my 3rd baby and I had never experienced anything like this. Nancy was so warm and caring and gave me the confidence that I was lacking from this whole ordeal. Not only did she care for Christa, she gave me, the mom, the emotional support that I needed to get through this.
Within a few weeks Christa learned the rhythm of drinking from a bottle, however, she was still refluxing and refused to feed once again.
The pediatrician and the GI specialist insisted that she be admitted and a feeding tube be put in. They also said she should see a pediatric neurologist because they thought that she might have some sort of a brain defect. Through Nancy’s support, I was able to get through this tough time.
I refused all of this because she had reached all of the appropriate milestones for her age and my intuition told me that they –the doctors-were missing something.
We continued to see Nancy and she once again, thoroughly checked Christa to ensure that she wasn’t missing anything. At this time, she was 4 months and still only 9 lbs. (her birth weight was 7lbs, 11 oz). We both agreed that the doctors were missing something.
I then tried a different approach. My neighbor is a chiropractor and practices homeopathic medicine. Within minutes of checking her, we changed the formula once again, to Alimentum. She immediately went from drinking 2 oz and screaming through a feeding to 8 oz. pain-free.
When I told Nancy that this new “doctor” was coming over, she asked if she could come to my house and watch him treat her. In my life experience, I have never had a professional come “after hours” to see that their patient was okay. Nancy’s dedication and care for the well being of her patients is one truly to be admired.
Christa is now 13 months and about 18.5 lbs. She loves to eat pasta with peas, broccoli, pizza, fruit and cheerios. She has reached all of the milestones of a 13 month old. She is trying to walk. She still drinks her Alimentum through what she calls her “ba-ba”. She never got a feeding tube or has any brain defect.
The only one thing that the pediatrician and the GI specialist did right was referred us to see Nancy. Without Nancy’s support, knowledge, and dedication, the outcome would not be like this. Thank you for being who you are. You are truly heaven sent and an inspiration to all.
Your Friend,
Maria Ragosa…..and Christa too!
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My son Jared was 18 months old when he started working with Nancy. He could not transition to solids and I was at a loss as to why or what to do. If he tried even a Cheerio he would gag and throw up. He couldn't tolerate even a crumb on his lips. It's been a long journey, but Jared is now 4 and eating like a typical preschooler. We only see Nancy every month or so for some new challenges to work on, but our gratitude to her is still felt on a daily basis.
I call Nancy our miracle. She has absolutely amazed me with her skill, talent, experience, and level of knowledge. On top of that she has a true understanding of children and how they think and what they feel. Over the last few years, I have watched her work with children of all ages and deal with a wide variety of special situations. She has the heart and soul of a saint. She brings hope to parents who thought there was none and direction to parents who might have lost their way in the struggle to get their child to eat. I have been brought to tears many times during our sessions with Nancy witnessing my son's success. I have also had a hand to hold and someone to calm me down when I became nervous about watching my son try to eat things for the first time, unsure of his capabilities. I'm not sure Nancy is aware of all that she means to her "kids" and their families, but I think I am correct when I say that she feels like family and I am so very grateful for having her in Jared's life and I will look forward to staying in touch, even after our sessions end, so as Jared gets older she continues to see what an impact she had on his life. Nancy is simply the best feeding therapist I have seen and I can't imagine having gone through all we did with anyone other than her.
L.R.
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At 14 months my son had not eaten solid food, never had a Cheerio and if we were able to get 3rd food baby foods into his mouth he gagged, choked and/or vomited. At the time the pediatricians told me to relax, “he was just not ready to eat solid food”. As a first time mother I relied on my instincts and started searching for help on my own.
Over the course of the next year we saw many therapists with diagnosis ranging from GI problems to purely behavioral. I was told to stop allowing my baby to manipulate me. None of these responses sat right with me so I kept searching. When I finally found Nancy it was obvious I had met the right person. Nancy recognized my son had sensory issues and weak oral motor skills.
We spent many weeks getting him to trust her and with that came plenty of screaming and tears. Through it all Nancy was nothing but patient, caring, loving and supportive to my son. She built a trust with him and he grew to truly love her.
In October 2006 after a few months, Nancy said we had finished therapy and accomplished our goals. My son was eating at an age appropriate level. His diet had expanded from puree foods only to all textures, consistencies, colors, smells and tastes. I spent our last day with Nancy crying. Partly because I was nervous that he would not continue to do so well without seeing Nancy every week and partly because I was so happy. Once again, Nancy gave me her support and reassured me she was only a phone call away if we started having problems. However, as she predicated he continued to do well and you would never know there was ever an issue.
I never thought the day would come that my son would be eating like any other child his age did. Nancy was always supportive and comforting when at times it seemed like things would not get better. I will always be grateful to Nancy for what she helped us accomplish. I think of Nancy every time my son eats and I see him chew and enjoy his food. She will always hold a special place in my heart as well as in my son’s.
Thank you Nancy for helping us get there.
Joanne
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Nancy,
10 months old- 18 pounds and 28 inches!!!!!!
She loves to eat EVERYTHING!!!
She is happy, healthy, cruising and weaning off Prevacid.
We couldn't have done it without YOU!
Love and thanks,
JM
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Nancy,
Where do I begin???? When Dylan was first born, my husband and I had no idea what we were in for. As a new mom, I was supposed to be able to feed my son. Many nights we cried and felt that this whole situation was a nightmare that we needed to awaken from. Why won't he eat? How come he won't just nurse or take a bottle? How could this perfect little baby need to be fed from a tube?? "What is wrong with him? Those were only some of the thoughts that kept us awake at night and in emotional pain.
Having gone to all of the "BIG" feeding clinics and seeing the numerous self proclaimed "feeding specialists," my husband and I thought there wasn't anyone on the planet who could help us until we found YOU! From the minute we spoke to you on the phone, I knew we had found the right person. As we waited with anticipation for our evaluation, I prayed that you would be the one to help my son.
My prayers were answered! Not only did you find the cause for his eating difficulties, you listened, you empathized, and you helped us re-gain our confidence in feeding our son. It's hard to believe that someone actually took the time to explain his difficulties to us and we were finally able to understand his problems. This gave us a chance to better prepare ourselves and Dylan for his course of therapy. You led us to the right specialists and you communicated with them until answers were found. You went above and beyond with your determination to find the right help and guide us in the right direction.
It's hard to believe that in 6 short months, Dylan is drinking from a bottle, eating from a spoon, and actually starting to chew his cookies as if nothing had ever happened! The best day of our lives, besides Dylan's birth, was the day we removed the tube. (I will not miss THAT!). I cannot believe our journey with you has now ended but know from the bottom of our hearts we are eternally grateful and blessed to have you in our lives. You will always be our hero and our friend! (I wasn't kidding when I said I put your picture in his baby book along with our therapy journal).
I thank you for all that you have done for us and for Dylan. I wish you the very best that life has to offer. I pray that those parents who feel hopeless find the path to your door. You have truly been given a gift and may your kind heart be blessed.
We will miss you dearly!
(I will keep in touch and send some pictures!)
Love,
Stefanie & Mark
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