Guest Blog by Jennifer Kemmerling
My name is Jennifer Kemmerling and I have two little girls. Charlotte is 4 and Grace will turn 3 in April—they are 17-months apart. Charlotte was diagnosed with severe eczema when she was only a couple months old. We had no idea why her skin was so red. We thought it was just the dry, flakey skin that babies sometimes got after they were born. We were finally told that she had eczema by a pediatric dermatologist and were prescribed a steroid cream called Cutivate. It helped so much but we were very leery of using a steroid on her, so we used it only when it got super bad and very sparingly. We were also told to never use anything scented and the only detergent we could use was Dreft. Never to use any fabric softeners because of the fragrance in them. UGH! So much for having nice smelling clothes.
Because of her eczema, we were also told to stay away from major allergens…specifically food related things like strawberries, eggs, fish, and nuts. We did a great job at that. When she had her 2 year wellness visit with her doctor (back in 2011), I asked about introducing some things to her, maybe peanut butter. He said he didn’t think it would be bad to try. So, a few months later, on Valentine’s Day, we gave her a heart shaped peanut butter cup to try. Oh…the look of pleasure on her face sitting down to eat it was so cute! I sat right next to her to keep an eye on her. Her first initial bite, she said “Mmmmmmm”. Then came the dry cough. I let her finish that bite and she took another. Another dry cough. Didn’t like that at all, I knew from experience with my nephew who has a severe peanut allergy what to expect. Dry coughing is not good. She didn’t complain of feeling anything strange but I took it away immediately. She cried. I told her she shouldn’t eat anymore and gave her a Hershey’s kiss instead. After going to pick up a pizza with my husband, Charlotte took her coat off and was immediately scratching the back of her head and neck. Still no complaining. I took her shirt off to see her entire body covered in hives. FULL body hives. Poor thing. Her ear was swelling as well as one of her eyes. We took her to urgent care and they gave her steroid meds. That’s when we took her to an allergist and he confirmed that she was off the charts with peanuts and a few other tree nuts. UGH!!
So, we have a little one with skin issues, allergies to peanut and tree-nut as well as cats and dogs. Grace and my husband have eczema as well. We have been super careful about scented things in the house. Back in May of 2012 I was introduced to Melaleuca for the first time. I heard the awesome 45 minute overview and was so impressed I needed to try everything! I was specifically interested in trying all the EcoSense cleaning products…especially the laundry line. I said I couldn’t have anything scented so I was going to get the scent-free detergent. My friend Dr. Barbara Ryan (and now my business partner and mentor for my Melaleuca business) asked me why unscented so I explained how the doctors told us to stay away from any fragrances. Dr. Ryan told me that we wouldn’t have any trouble using the scented line at all since it was all fragranced with botanical oils. I tried it and it was amazing! I fell in love with all the products and decided to start my own business educating others about the incredible benefits of being with Melaleuca. It has changed the way we live and I am so proud of being able to help others learn more. I feel even better raising my girls to know why it’s so important in their lives to use safe products for not only their benefit but for the environment. I am an older mom, will turn 46 this year, and my concern is of course when I’m not here…who will teach them these things? I hope that by bringing Melaleuca into their lives, that they see how it has made a difference. How it can make a difference to everyone.
If anyone would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me here on FB, my email [email protected] or you can call/text me on my cell to introduce yourselves to me and I’d be most thrilled to help you. My cell is 630-290-6137.
Thank you for hearing my story.
Jennifer Kemmerling
“Nothing great was every achieved without enthusiasm.” ~~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Because of her eczema, we were also told to stay away from major allergens…specifically food related things like strawberries, eggs, fish, and nuts. We did a great job at that. When she had her 2 year wellness visit with her doctor (back in 2011), I asked about introducing some things to her, maybe peanut butter. He said he didn’t think it would be bad to try. So, a few months later, on Valentine’s Day, we gave her a heart shaped peanut butter cup to try. Oh…the look of pleasure on her face sitting down to eat it was so cute! I sat right next to her to keep an eye on her. Her first initial bite, she said “Mmmmmmm”. Then came the dry cough. I let her finish that bite and she took another. Another dry cough. Didn’t like that at all, I knew from experience with my nephew who has a severe peanut allergy what to expect. Dry coughing is not good. She didn’t complain of feeling anything strange but I took it away immediately. She cried. I told her she shouldn’t eat anymore and gave her a Hershey’s kiss instead. After going to pick up a pizza with my husband, Charlotte took her coat off and was immediately scratching the back of her head and neck. Still no complaining. I took her shirt off to see her entire body covered in hives. FULL body hives. Poor thing. Her ear was swelling as well as one of her eyes. We took her to urgent care and they gave her steroid meds. That’s when we took her to an allergist and he confirmed that she was off the charts with peanuts and a few other tree nuts. UGH!!
So, we have a little one with skin issues, allergies to peanut and tree-nut as well as cats and dogs. Grace and my husband have eczema as well. We have been super careful about scented things in the house. Back in May of 2012 I was introduced to Melaleuca for the first time. I heard the awesome 45 minute overview and was so impressed I needed to try everything! I was specifically interested in trying all the EcoSense cleaning products…especially the laundry line. I said I couldn’t have anything scented so I was going to get the scent-free detergent. My friend Dr. Barbara Ryan (and now my business partner and mentor for my Melaleuca business) asked me why unscented so I explained how the doctors told us to stay away from any fragrances. Dr. Ryan told me that we wouldn’t have any trouble using the scented line at all since it was all fragranced with botanical oils. I tried it and it was amazing! I fell in love with all the products and decided to start my own business educating others about the incredible benefits of being with Melaleuca. It has changed the way we live and I am so proud of being able to help others learn more. I feel even better raising my girls to know why it’s so important in their lives to use safe products for not only their benefit but for the environment. I am an older mom, will turn 46 this year, and my concern is of course when I’m not here…who will teach them these things? I hope that by bringing Melaleuca into their lives, that they see how it has made a difference. How it can make a difference to everyone.
If anyone would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me here on FB, my email [email protected] or you can call/text me on my cell to introduce yourselves to me and I’d be most thrilled to help you. My cell is 630-290-6137.
Thank you for hearing my story.
Jennifer Kemmerling
“Nothing great was every achieved without enthusiasm.” ~~Ralph Waldo Emerson
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