May 6, 1996

Dear Mrs. Slimak,

My telephone call to you on April 15, 1996 was one of desperation. I'm certain you could hear and feel my emotions coming through the phone when I left the message for you on the recorder and when I spoke to you personally. At that time, I was weak from hunger, frightened of traditional foods and desperately in need of foods I could tolerate. Before calling, I prayed silently that this company would be able to provide for my special food needs.

My problems with allergies began when I was a child. I had been misdiagnosed throughout my life. I was referred to numerous physicians throughout my childhood and adult life. At age 34, I was referred to Dr. Allan Lieberman of Charleston, S.C. by my regular allergist. Dr. Fravel referred me to Dr. Allan Lieberman, an environmental allergist, once he realized my condition required more extensive treatment than he could provide in his office. After a series of tests, I was diagnosed with severe multiple allergies, including severe food allergies. Throughout my life, my parents and I observed that I felt ill after meals. Traditional treatments had involved treating the symptoms with drugs which worsened my condition because they contained dyes and chemicals to which I’m allergic. As a result of eating, drinking, and breathing substances which produced allergic responses, my condition worsened. I became increasingly more sensitive to foods: and other substances.

The food problems became debilitating in 1994. I was bedridden for several months. I slowly regained some strength after a few months, but for a period of one and a half years, I required assistance to perform duly routine tasks including cooking and caring for personal needs. At that time I was only able to eat Organic green leafy vegetables, Organic meats, fresh fish, and filtered water. Because of my inability to tolerate the starchy complex foods,(pastas, breads, etc.) my weight plummeted, my hypoglycemia worsed, and I was weak and listless from hunger. My husband and I decided to travel to Charleston, S.C. to do research on alternate food sources. We found information on your company Special Foods. Because the literature indicated your foods were Organic, Mold Free, and Chemical Free, we felt there was a strong possibility I could tolerate your foods. I called you the following Monday and explained to you the urgency of my situation. You were able to ship two different varieties of pastas (Cassava and Malanga) the next day.

Prior to the arrival of the pastas, my husband and I, friends and family prayed that the foods would be tolerable. After the foods arrived, I was anxious and fearful about trying these new foods because of the problems I was having with traditional foods. At this point, we knew we didn't have any other food options because we had exhausted all other possibilities. My husband is always present when I try anything new because of the life threatening reactions I experienced in the past. My husband and I were relieved when I did not have the usual facial and vocal cord swelling that normally accompanied the ingestion of a pasta or any other high complex food. I didn't have any symptoms immediately following the meal and didn't have the usual nasal-sinus bleeding 24 hours later.

I ordered additional foods later in the week and these were also a success. The cost of the foods was not a concern because I was able to eat without the severe adverse side affects. I would spend $5 per loaf of bread from the local health food store, but after eating a small piece, the loaf had to be discarded. This was common practice because the traditional foods didn't work. It was more costly in the past because so much food was wasted and I required numerous emergency urgent medical care visits and medications to treat the symptoms resulting from food intolerances. I've been able to eat all products purchased from Special Foods.

My family and friends have been very supportive because they had seen the affect intolerable foods had on my body. For years they witnessed the deterioration of their loved one. They are all grateful for the foods Special Foods is providing me. Mrs. Slimak, I would like to end by saying, "Thank you Mrs. Slimak for being there at a time when I didn't have anywhere else to turn." I’ve been able to prepare and eat foods I never believed I could eat. Special Foods has played a major role in helping to improve my health. Thank you Mrs. Slimak and Special Foods for helping me to live.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Johnnie H. Brown