My personal journey and the birth of Mother City Fish
Owning a small business is challenging, especially in the food industry. I often remind myself why I do this: my passion for healthy eating and my belief that food is medicine. This revelation transformed my life seven years ago.
My early eating habits and diagnosis
I grew up in the 80s and fresh produce was rarely on our supper table. My mom didn’t enjoy cooking, and my dad worked at a canned food company, which was all too convenient. A few years at boarding school eating starchy meals, followed by questionable food choices and drinking as a young adult, left me in a sorry state by my mid-twenties. I always struggled with tummy issues.
In 2010, everything came to a head. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was at a Heritage Day braai in Kommetjie with my then-boyfriend (now husband), Ax. We had to leave abruptly, doubled over in pain, and Ax rushed me to Cape Town Medi-Clinic. The doctors suspected appendicitis and scheduled me for surgery.
It wasn’t appendicitis. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease (see footnote below for more on this), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. My brother had been diagnosed with the same condition in 1999, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected, but I was terrified, having witnessed his struggles. I was prescribed immune blockers.
The immune blockers hadn’t worked and by early 2011, I was back in the Emergency Room and admitted to surgery. Doctors removed a section of my small intestine that was beyond repair, and again, after a few months, I was placed back on immune blockers. It was a tough recovery.
Making future plans
Later that year, Ax and I decided to start a family. It didn’t take long for me to get pregnant, and by January, I was expecting Aaron. We married in April, and life felt joyful and fulfilling. I was about to get everything I’d ever wanted.
It all came crashing down
Just two weeks later, at 20 weeks pregnant, I found myself in excruciating pain and back in the hospital. After two days without relief, my doctor opted for surgery, suspecting a severe Crohn’s flare-up.
A counselor explained that they would likely need to remove my bowel and that I might wake up with a colostomy bag. She warned that we might lose the baby, and I might not survive the surgery. I was on morphine, so the details were hazy, but I know it was overwhelming for Ax.
I woke up in ICU without pain and, thankfully, no colostomy bag. Aaron was fine! The issue wasn’t a Crohn’s flare-up but an adhesion from my previous surgery. My small intestine had looped onto itself, and Aaron’s position had caused a blockage, cutting off all blood supply to a section of intestine. The doctors managed to only remove the bit of deceased bowel.
Pregnancy after surgery
During my ICU stay, I frequently requested the portable Doppler so I could hear my baby’s heartbeat. I had wanted to be a mom for a long time and despite my circumstances, all I cared about was my baby. I recovered swiftly from the surgery, thanks to pregnancy hormones, but remained cautious throughout my pregnancy.
Our expanding family
After a long labour, Aaron was born in September 2012. I avoided immune blockers while breastfeeding, but after six months, I had to resume treatment due to the severity of my condition. I couldn’t breastfeed while on the medication, so that was hard to give up.
In 2014, we decided to try for another child. The pregnancy was tough, but went reasonably smoothly, with no major complications. Humira appeared to work well, my Crohn’s was in remission, and I could continue to breastfeed as long as I wanted.
It all started to go wrong again
By 2017, I found myself ill all the time. The immune blockers kept my Crohn’s under control, but my immune system was shot. A persistent chest infection lasted from April until September, needing multiple courses of antibiotics and cortisone treatments. In search of answers, I consulted Dr. Phil Burnham, a Chinese medicine practitioner. He suggested I read “The Autoimmune Solution” by Dr. Amy Myers, claiming it could be life-changing. Sceptical but desperate, I dove into the book and found that Dr. Myers had experienced a journey similar to mine.
Time for a change
The book advocates for an anti-inflammatory diet consisting solely of meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables—excluding even nightshade vegetables and grains. I committed to this limited diet, and within two weeks, my chest infection disappeared without any medications.
I consulted a homeopathic GP before my next Humira injection was due. He encouraged me to continue my new lifestyle and confirmed that I may never need the medication again.
Where I am now
Seven years later, I still adhere to many principles from that diet and have been unmedicated for Crohn’s. I’ve learned how to adjust the diet based on my body’s responses. I firmly believe that nutrition significantly impacts health. Beyond diet, I’ve discovered the importance of stress management, exercise, community involvement, and prioritizing sleep.
Throughout this journey, I’ve come to appreciate the value of terms like “organic,” “grass-fed,” “wild-caught,” and “local.” Initially, I dismissed them, but they truly matter in the quality of our food.
The birth of Mother City Fish
This understanding led to the inception of Mother City Fish. While I could easily source fantastic meats and produce, quality wild-caught fish remained elusive in local supermarkets. When a close friend introduced me to Pescaluna’s owner, I knew I wanted in! And I wanted to share my find with others.
I now select items for the shop based on a checklist: they must be tasty, minimally processed, ethically sourced, and local.
Our line of home-brand products reflects this commitment, created with high-quality ingredients and catering for various dietary limitations.
Conclusion
As a mother, I am dedicated to instilling lifelong healthy habits in my children. By teaching them to nourish their bodies and respect the environment, I hope to reduce their risk of developing health issues in the future, especially with autoimmunity in our family’s genetic makeup.
Thank you for reading my story and for being part of the Mother City Fish family. Your support means the world to me! I love my business and hope to positively impact my customers’ health journeys too.
Footnote: Crohn’s disease causes inflammation of the digestive tract, leading to symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. It can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract but most commonly impacts the small intestine (like mine). While the exact cause remains unknown, it is believed to involve genetic factors and environmental triggers. Immune blockers are commonly used to treat Crohn’s disease, targeting components of the immune system that drive inflammation. These can help reduce symptoms and heal the intestinal lining, but they can also increase the risk of infections.
