Amy's Story
Paralysis, Food Allergies, and The Hidden Consumer
My journey to today has been fraught with challenges and obstacles; and yet I forged away forward.
Moving Forward After Paralysis
November 6, 2008 Amy's world turned upside. A normal morning routine that was anything but and her arms giving out led to her never working in retail again. It would be a decade before she work full-time.
Imagine a life where:
At the age of 30 you are told you will never work again.
Doctors believe you will be dead by the age of 40.
Having to decide to take risks that might injure you further.
But finding away forward that started with the smallest steps.
I would not have a name for my wrist pain until August 2008. I was diagnosed with Regional Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSDS) otherwise known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrom Type I (CRPS). This disease is nicknamed the suicide disease for the level of pain it brings with it and no cure. A majority of people with this disease will commit suicide within 10 years of diagnosis.
After my diagnosis, I struggled with the reality of finally knowing what was wrong but having no cure. There was no pill that was ever going to take my pain away.
On the morning of November 6th, 2008 I was unsure what my future would be as I struggled with living with my diagnosis. Then at 6:30 am, I attempted to pour myself coffee. But my hands were struggling to grip. I thought I had it back when my hands gave out. I had begun a 10-year battle to work through temporary paralysis and rejoin the full-time workforce.
Disney Collector to Rare Disease Collector
Between 2008 and 2018, I collected one more rare disease, one orphan disease, and a food sensitivity that makes me allergic to life. My sensitivity and allergy are so severe I cannot shop in grocery stores.
My family and I had to move to California so we could buy food from certified organic farmers year-round.
I finally had plenty of food but work was difficult to secure. As part of my condition, I need to use forearm crutches and occasionally a wheelchair. It turns out that makes me unhirable in the state of California. Every position I interviewed for in Southern California informed me that my legs were a risk to other employees. Their Risk Management Teams would not allow me to be hired.
In 2019, I earned a certificate in Business Analysis from UC-Davis. I used this as the foundation to open my company. On March 2, 2020, I officially opened for business. Eleven days later I had to revamp my business plan as COVID shut the world down
The Future is Bright Helping The Hidden Consumer
As of October 2022, I began to align my business with my original business plan with The Hidden Consumer and Hidden Consumers Consulting.
I am focusing my wealth of ingredient knowledge for food, cosmetics, and skin care and helping those who are creating a better product.
My business up to this point has focused on how to attract, engage, and convert people from a website into clients. I used data and makreting strategy to make this happen for my clients.
But now I want to take this a step further.
It's time to dive in with my expertise in Hidden Consumers who know and understand how our food ingredients are made. They know they will spend more to get a safer product for themselves and their families. Yet, many companies do not go far enough to market to these consumers.
A simple ingredient breakdown could boost sales beyond your expectations.
Now add this language to your website and you can find new organic traffic who become brand loyal consumers faster than running a Google Ad.
But you need someone who knows what to do and what the Hidden Consumer is looking for.