“TO SAY HELP ME, TO SAY WE ARE ABLE TO, TO SAY WHO WE ARE” (Internet Forums and the Celiac Disease)

In Argentina, my Country, a woman, built a place in the ciber space. It all started as a small group, in that marvelous interactive world. Soon, others were added to it and now it has consistency, identity and greats objectives; we became a big and important group in which everyone can express their own ideas and participate freely. That group transcends, mobilizes and generates in all the people, the consciousness of the importance of attention regarding the problems of the celiac disease. It might be difficult to explain, but that forum, which already has more than 1600 members, is now a place in which many ideas are provided; we provide contention and aid, and we also help with the concerns that Argentine celiac community or any other person might have. Working all together with effort; patients, parents, friends, and the group itself, have become a symbol and we have generated an important effect and impact in argentine people. Today the diffusion of the celiac illness has achieved amazing levels, since that group, with not more than effort and hope, only with flags unfolded and posters in the streets, has informed to all the society, that there is in Argentina 400,000 celiac and only 25,000 of them know about their condition. With effort and hope, society has been alerted, and the group fights itself tirelessly for a Celiac Law, with the objective of dignifying the celiac’s patients quality of life; (in brief, I will be commenting this Law, its basic pillars; and the way in which we are working (together Associations and Medical Teams) looking forward to have this Law urgently) In this first intervention, I wanted to share with the international celiac community, the importance of the union, the contention, and the love. Despite I have entered to the group just a few months ago, I am already proud of being a member. Daniel Carosella May 15, 2008