Friday morning, June 26, 2009, I was driving to my daughter's doctors office to drop off some medical papers minding my own business. There was very little traffic on the road and no cars behind me as I neared the doctors office. As I was getting ready to turn into the parking lot I noticed in my rear view mirror a car approaching me at a speed so fast that I became alarmed that I was going to be rear-ended. I quickly pulled to the left towards the curb as I executed my turn into the parking lot fully expecting to either be rear-ended or have my driver's side passenger mirror clipped by the speeding car. As I pulled into the parking lot I watched the speeding car make a dramatic turn into the adjacent parking lot, only a mere 10 feet from where I had turned. How interesting I thought to myself. Why speed so much just to get an additional 10 feet? But the car didn't stop in the next parking lot, it made a rapid turn and exited out of the parking lot and came around into the parking lot I was now parked in! I have to admit I had a small burst of adrenaline, and quite frankly a tinge of fear, as I watch this car pull quickly into the spot next to where I had parked. What possibly was going on here?
I got out of my car, a bit on edge clutching the paperwork I was there to drop off, and looked over my shoulder at the woman now getting out of her car. She practically fell out of her car and was mumbling and fumbling with her words. Now, she had my full attention and I turned to see if something was actually wrong with her. Not really speaking she pointed to the words on the back of my mini-van - www.TheSuperAllergyCookbook.com and said, "Is that you?". Yes, I assured her, that was my website. As the conversation unfolded, this desperate mom had a food allergic child, allergic to most of the top 8 allergens, and she was having an extremely difficult time feeding her young child. I was filled with compassion knowing exactly the kind of upset and frustration she was experiencing.
She asked for my business card, which I gladly forked over to her. We had a lovely, although brief, conversation because I had an appointment to get to nearby. This delightful woman is not alone. This past week a mother from Australia had ordered my cookbook for the very same reason - trying to cook for a child allergic to wheat, milk, eggs, etc. Before her copy of my cookbook had even arrived, she downloaded some of my free recipes and made rolls that were in her words "Today I made the dinner rolls and they are the NICEST gluten free bread I have ever tasted. THANKS A MILLION." Then she posted two comments on this blog later to say that she had made the white cake recipe listed in this blog and said this: "Lisa- back again. This recipe is absolutely fantastic."
When I was suffering over feeding my son Noah many moons ago (he is now 10), I knew in my heart of heart that God does not give you a cross without providing a greater cause that it can be used for. It brings tears to my eyes to know that I am actually helping mothers who are struggling. I know how hard it can be to get information, manage the maze of medicine, and figure out what is bothering your baby, toddler or child. I know, too, how difficult it is to bake and cook foods without gluten, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree-nuts, coconut, and corn and soy (over 75% of my recipes are naturally free of corn and soy).
Here is a quick look at the statistics of the potential numbers of people who could be helped by a change in diet:
-3 million Americans with celiac disease (97% of them not yet diagnosed)
-75-84 million Americans with food intolerances or sensitivities
-4.4 million school-aged children with ADHD
-1.2 million with ADD (6.8 million estimated as undiagnosed with ADD)
-5 million with irritable bowel
-60-70 million with digestive diseases
-15-20 million (estimated) with gluten intolerance (distinct and separate from celiac disease)
-3.1 million with constipation
-20+ million with depression
-4 to 8 million with behavior issues, fibromyalgia
-40 million with anxiety disorders
-1/2 million with Crohn's disease
Now, some of the people have more than one symptom, so we can't really say definitively how many individuals could be helped. The bottom line is that there are millions and millions of people who would have a substantial increase in the quality of their life if they knew that a change in diet might resolve their health issue.
The more we can get the word out there, the more children and families we can help. You can help by posting links to this blog on your Facebook page (on your wall), by Tweeting about it, by sharing the link with your friends, co-workers, and family. Together, we can make life a lot easier for people. I'd love to hear your comments and your stories!!
Love,
Lisa
I got out of my car, a bit on edge clutching the paperwork I was there to drop off, and looked over my shoulder at the woman now getting out of her car. She practically fell out of her car and was mumbling and fumbling with her words. Now, she had my full attention and I turned to see if something was actually wrong with her. Not really speaking she pointed to the words on the back of my mini-van - www.TheSuperAllergyCookbook.com and said, "Is that you?". Yes, I assured her, that was my website. As the conversation unfolded, this desperate mom had a food allergic child, allergic to most of the top 8 allergens, and she was having an extremely difficult time feeding her young child. I was filled with compassion knowing exactly the kind of upset and frustration she was experiencing.
She asked for my business card, which I gladly forked over to her. We had a lovely, although brief, conversation because I had an appointment to get to nearby. This delightful woman is not alone. This past week a mother from Australia had ordered my cookbook for the very same reason - trying to cook for a child allergic to wheat, milk, eggs, etc. Before her copy of my cookbook had even arrived, she downloaded some of my free recipes and made rolls that were in her words "Today I made the dinner rolls and they are the NICEST gluten free bread I have ever tasted. THANKS A MILLION." Then she posted two comments on this blog later to say that she had made the white cake recipe listed in this blog and said this: "Lisa- back again. This recipe is absolutely fantastic."
When I was suffering over feeding my son Noah many moons ago (he is now 10), I knew in my heart of heart that God does not give you a cross without providing a greater cause that it can be used for. It brings tears to my eyes to know that I am actually helping mothers who are struggling. I know how hard it can be to get information, manage the maze of medicine, and figure out what is bothering your baby, toddler or child. I know, too, how difficult it is to bake and cook foods without gluten, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree-nuts, coconut, and corn and soy (over 75% of my recipes are naturally free of corn and soy).
Here is a quick look at the statistics of the potential numbers of people who could be helped by a change in diet:
-3 million Americans with celiac disease (97% of them not yet diagnosed)
-75-84 million Americans with food intolerances or sensitivities
-4.4 million school-aged children with ADHD
-1.2 million with ADD (6.8 million estimated as undiagnosed with ADD)
-5 million with irritable bowel
-60-70 million with digestive diseases
-15-20 million (estimated) with gluten intolerance (distinct and separate from celiac disease)
-3.1 million with constipation
-20+ million with depression
-4 to 8 million with behavior issues, fibromyalgia
-40 million with anxiety disorders
-1/2 million with Crohn's disease
Now, some of the people have more than one symptom, so we can't really say definitively how many individuals could be helped. The bottom line is that there are millions and millions of people who would have a substantial increase in the quality of their life if they knew that a change in diet might resolve their health issue.
The more we can get the word out there, the more children and families we can help. You can help by posting links to this blog on your Facebook page (on your wall), by Tweeting about it, by sharing the link with your friends, co-workers, and family. Together, we can make life a lot easier for people. I'd love to hear your comments and your stories!!
Love,
Lisa
Hi Katrina,
Yes, I am here to help you!! There are moms like you all over the U.S. and in other countries believe it or not!! I really thought I was going to lose my mind feeding my second child, so I have such great compassion and such a commitment to help!! Please feel free to keep me posted on how I can help you!! It really is a joy to make the journey easier for another human being!! Sending my love,
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa A. Lundy | June 30, 2009 at 09:25 PM
Hello,
It's me the Frantic Car Driver....I wanted to thank you for taking the time to speak with me and give me your card. I was just driving and thinking to myself I have to find more foods for my son to eat....that are safe and then I saw your car and I knew I had to talk to you.
It was such a relief to know that someone had thought of cooking ideas and that my son could experience a meal other than the 3 jars of organic baby food that we found to be safe for him.
This whole experience is so new to myself and family and I am just realizing that this is a life long journey that we all will endure together. My only hope is that other's are made more aware of this so that they too can enjoy cooking for their kids.
My journey began the first day we came home and suddenly my son was a different child. I nursed him, which was the worse thing to do, because everything I was eating was making him sick. The doctors assured me he was just a colic baby, but my mother instincts told me differently and I found a new ped. doctor and demanded to have him skin tested. I found out he was allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts/tree-nuts, wheat, bananas, tomatoes and red dye...he could not eat them or have any skin contact.
That was the day I came home and cried and said to myself well..what can I feed him. The doctors were no help so I dried my tears went to Wegmans and looked at every label to find safe foods for my son. Yes, his diet is limited but I have new hope after talking with you.
Thanks. :-)
Posted by: Katrina West | June 30, 2009 at 08:17 PM