Jonna’s story
“Now, I’m living a life I couldn’t even envision before Enterra”
Jonna, Enterra® Therapy patient, New Jersey, United States
From symptoms to diagnosis
In January 2015, Jonna got sick. She came down with several viruses simultaneously—including influenza, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
So when she began vomiting repeatedly the next month, she thought it was a complication of her recent illness.
But when her symptoms didn’t end, she knew something more serious was happening. After a few months, Jonna sought out a gastroenterologist—and was diagnosed with gastroparesis.
Her gastroenterologist put her on several medications, including erythromycin and Reglan®, but they didn’t alleviate her symptoms. In fact, they caused entirely new, intolerable side effects.
Jonna then tried a very strict diet—losing twenty pounds during the five week process. But when her diet modifications didn’t help, she moved to alternative methods of receiving nutrition, receiving multiple NJ tubes, a GJ tube, and TPN over the course of several months.
Jonna says that while her gastroenterologist did the best she could, she just didn’t have the resources to treat severe gastroparesis patients and referred Jonna on to additional motility specialists.
Discovering Enterra® Therapy
By early 2016, Jonna’s mother had found a new gastroenterologist—one at a renowned hospital familiar with treating gastroparesis. Even though it meant making a ten-hour drive from New Jersey to Ohio every couple of months, Jonna and her mother were determined to find relief and turn Jonna’s life around.
In 2017, under the advice of her new gastroenterologist, Jonna received Enterra Therapy. Within six months of her procedure, she went from being able to eat nothing at all to enjoying most foods. She started out slowly, first eating crackers, and could tolerate more and more foods over time. Although it was a long journey, Jonna fondly remembers the first time she was able to eat without nausea or vomiting.
Life with Enterra Therapy
Today, although there are still some days where she struggles with gastroparesis, Jonna is living a life she says she could not have even envisioned before receiving Enterra Therapy.
She’s currently a student at Cornell University, studying Applied Economics and Management at the Dyson School of Business. After graduation, Jonna plans to use her education and personal experience to continue managing her nonprofit organization for children with rare diseases, many of whom have gastroparesis.
Jonna says her family has always inspired her to be a positive person—encouraging her to move forward even when things are tough. Now, more than ever, she feels empowered to use her journey and experience to make a positive impact for others.
In addition to Jonna’s full life, she’s proud to spend time connecting with and mentoring other gastroparesis patients because of the “incredible, life-changing difference” that Enterra Therapy has made in her life.
Jonna’s experience is unique to her and individual results may vary.
“Now, I’m living a life I couldn’t even envision before Enterra”
MKT-D-0006, Rev L
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Enterra Therapy for treatment of chronic, resistant to medication nausea and vomiting associated with gastroparesis caused by diabetes or an unknown origin in patients aged 18 to 70 years: patients should always discuss potential risks and benefits of the device with their physician.
HUMANITARIAN DEVICE
Authorized by Federal law for use in the treatment of chronic intractable (drug refractory) nausea and vomiting secondary to gastroparesis of diabetic or idiopathic etiology in patients aged 18 to 70 years. The effectiveness of this device for this use has not been demonstrated. What does this mean?