At the age of 29 I was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and began dialysis, a treatment which helps to filter the blood from toxins, basically doing the work my kidneys should be doing. During this time, I took the decision to leave my career and focus on finding what was truly important to me. It was a major adjustment, my health began to decline, and I was constantly feeling fatigued, my skin was breaking out, and becoming very sensitive and dry. During a conversation with a friend who also suffered from kidney disease, she mentioned she had started trying natural skincare products and noticed significant improvement in her skin. This sparked my curiosity; I wondered if my skin products were contributing to my skin problems.
I started reading about the ingredients in my skin products, and found some of the synthetic ingredients used had little to no active nutrient qualities. I also became concerned about the potential effects some of the synthetic ingredients might have if used frequently over a long period of time. I decided to look for natural skincare alternatives, and also stopped using antiperspirant deodorants that contained aluminium, as they were preventing my body from detoxifying naturally through perspiration. After trying various natural deodorants with disappointing results, I decided to try make my own and began researching and formulating my own deodorant recipe using only natural ingredients. After many attempts, I finally made a successful batch that lasted the entire day and night, even after a hot, sweaty day. I shared my natural deodorant with family, friends, my reflexologist, physiotherapists and anyone who was interested and received great feedback.
With that encouragement, I also made face products using natural, organic oils that were gentle enough for my sensitive skin. The results were incredible, my skin looked healthier and people actually commented positively on my complexion. It was so rewarding to create something that was effective, completely natural and good.
On 27 March 2017, after five years of dialysis treatment, I finally received a kidney transplant from an anonymous donor. This transformational gift gave me a miraculous second chance. A year after my recovery I launched Redhelm Organics. This was an opportunity to share my passion for the remarkable benefits of nature, and offer a cleaner alternative to mainstream products. This journey has been such a blessing that began during a time of great difficulty.