I never thought I would be into health and nutrition. In fact, I was quite the "typical American" standard as far as health goes. I was blessed with relatively healthy genetics, I played sports, I was "healthy" by all medical standards. I didn't eat fast food all day every day, I knew I needed to eat vegetables and I enjoyed a good salad with my meal,  but I also loved to go out to eat, get the quick, cheap combos, and indulge in the most sugary treat I could find for a mid- night snack. Its not that I didn't think that healthy eating didn't matter, but I just didn't really have a reason to believe it should be a top priority with everything going on. Besides, I was young and I was getting along just fine. 

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Fast forward to a time when I was a mom with 2 sweet little girls, pregnant with my 3rd. I had been battling potty-training with my oldest. she could get number one, but I couldn't quite get her to understand or even try to go number two. Yes, I had researched all these things about how to help and why she was having trouble, and nothing was working. I became frustrated and thought she just didn't care.  I was out of ideas, so, I prayed. I prayed for help to know how to help her without traumatizing her to feel like she was a failure. As I prayed, I had a strong impression to just sit back and observe. As I did, and as I watched my youngest daughter at the time begin to practically potty-train herself, I realized major clues staring me in the face. I ultimately realized my oldest daughter had no idea when number 2 was happening. She had little to zero control of her bowels, and she couldn't even tell if she had an accident. I reached out for help from the pediatrician and she was diagnosed with encopresis. It was great to have a diagnosis, but my question was, why is this happening? I understand the what, but WHY was it happening? What could I do to help? "Fiber," was the only answer I was given. Ever. When that doesn't work? More fiber. Laxatives. Just clean her out. It will help. Well it didn't, then what? Fiber.

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​I had begun to find some success with my daughter as I confided in a family member who actually has become a great mentor to me. She guided me to this journey of functional nutrition and I began looking at less conventional possibilities. We have since been able to find clues and put more and more pieces together; and its not just FIBER!

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My greatest awakening, was with my 3rd child, who was about 18 months old when he had his first of 3 ER visits one month apart each. All of them started the same, he caught a cold, sniffled a day or two and BAM! He had rapid breathing and O2 stats dropping in the 80's to low 90's. Each ER visit I asked what more I could have done to not let this happen again. I was practically told the same thing, "You are doing everything you can, there is nothing more you can do. Just bring him in when he gets like this." They eventually told me he likely had asthma and gave me a nebulizer to possibly help keep him out of the ER. Well, that wasn't good enough for me. It was the last straw. I was not going to have another child that I would sit back, watch suffer, and medicate when needed. So I was determined to figure out what I ACTUALLY could do, as their mother to help. If it wasn't for my inspired mentor, I would still be trapped in google searches and remedies from who knows who. I essentially was able to be turned on to the path of success. Not quick fixes or band-aids, but a path that allows me the hope and direction to find success and improvement, for my son and my daughter's conditions. 

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We are now on this endeavor together, as a family. I have learned so much through my education and mentorship, and I am becoming more and more fluid with my understanding of functional nutrition as I practice every day. I am not a doctor or guru of health, in fact I want to clarify that I am not opposed to Doctors, but quite the opposite! Doctors have a very important role to play in all of this, we need them! I am grateful for medical advances that have saved my son in an instant of acute distress! However, there is currently a gap between their role and the patients; a gap of know-how and understanding. I am here to fill that gap. I am here to walk side by side with you and dig in to find and get results you never thought possible! I have a desire to change the world, one person at a time but, I can't do it alone. I need individuals willing to stand up and sacrifice the comfort of our cultures instant gratifications, for a greater purpose. It is not always going to be easy, and we wont always get it right, but with the right tools, mind, and spirit, I know we can make this ENDEAVOR together.