WAPF 2012

My overall review of this year's WAPF conference was thumbs up!  I was able to chat with those I had not seen since last year, meet new friends, make new connections, and listen to speakers such as Dr. Natasha Campbell-Mcbride, Dr. Chris Kresser, Monica Ford, Dr. Thomas Cowan, Dr. Don Huber, and others.  Unfortunately my iphone camera went on the fritz when I got there, so my Rock Star photos this year are limited.

Here is one of me and Monica Ford of Real Food Devotee.  She was a Wise Entrepreneur presenter, and also happens to be the sister of my local GAPS chef. (They are both Rock Stars)

A major highlight of the trip was the release of Dr. Natasha's new book - GAPS Stories.  The book contains more than 50 stories of children and adults who have been healed using the GAPS diet.  Ellie's story, as well as that of another child in the GAPS Kids community, are now in print!  The book does not appear on Dr. Natasha's website yet, but will be for sale at gapsdiet.com soon.

Since this is my second WAPF conference and we have been on GAPS for almost 2 years, I was very surprised to have taken 12 pages of notes while listening to Dr. Natasha the first day of the conference.  Here are some nuggets I can share:

*The whole body regenerates: every.single.cell (we used to think the brain didn't).  Different cells form at different rates.  New stem cells emerge from an area of the brain every day. Every 3 months we have an entirely new liver. The gut determines if these new cells are born healthy.  A sick gut means they will regenerate poorly.

*It has been known for over 70 years that 85% of our immune system is located in the gut wall.

*Our immune system is never misguided.  Our immune system responds to communication from the gut, which can provide wrong data.

*Tcells originate from the thymus.  There are lots of Tcells with different jobs, but they all are ultimately controlled by gut flora.

*The hair is a storage site for nutrition. Grey hair results when the body is nutrient deprived and pulls the nutrition from the hair.

*Decay attracks candida.  To get rid of candida you must get rid of decay.  We now know that the body will  send out signals and attract candida.

*Colic is the first alarm bell, and if the parent doesnt deal with it then far more serious conditions will come.

*We now know that people who had measles as a child do not get auto immune disease because the immune system received a proper education. This is not the case with those who receive vaccinations.

This was just the tip of the iceburg.  The conference was packed full of information and my brain is saturated!

Dallas, GAPS kids, and Community

November 10 I temporarily left my FPIES broth making duties at home, and headed to Dallas for the WAPF conference. I was thrilled at the idea of learning anything that I could bring back and share with other FPIES-GAPS mamas. I was especially anxious to get into a session with Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, and gather more information as it directly related to severe food allergy.

During Dr. Natasha's third session, she concluded with a Q & A portion. I sat and listened, and another mama came to the microphone. As she began I made a realization: there is an entire community of families out there walking the same path with a different diagnosis.

This mama was amazing. She shared a quick version of her daughter's story, and how she suffered from a rare epileptic condition that included a bleak prognosis. This mama had gone incredibly far outside of the box, and started her daughter on GAPS. The result - she was defying ALL odds, and getting BETTER. As this mom shared and then asked her question, she began to waver with emotion, fighting the urge to cry. Her daughter was seizing in the morning before waking up, perhaps due to hypoglycemia. As this mom choked out 'and I just keep thinking I am missing something...' I found myself tearing up as well. THIS mama wore the same shoes. She walked the same walk. She knew what it was like to make that brave leap and walk away from the comfort of the social norm. She asked the same questions.

And as Dr. Natasha answered her, I realized how the same questions and the same answers applied to FPIES.

If I saw her again, I would give her my card with information on GAPSkids, even though it did not visibly appear as a support system for her...yet. Dear Jesus. This mama must know she is not alone. And what amazing experience she could offer!

GAPS kids was originally designed for families of severe food allergies and feeding difficulties who are on the journey to healing with real food and GAPS. What I realized in Dallas is that this journey... of healing a child...outside of the box, regardless of the diagnosis,...is a petrifying and alone place to be.

If you are a parent navigating GAPS healing protocols and in need of a community, especially in the face of a severe or rare diagnosis, please consider joining us. GAPSkids forum

If you would like to hear more about Kennedy and her amazing path toward healing, and her very brave parents, watch here: