Our beloved Kyle Dine, singer, educator and food allergy sufferer, uses song and activities to educate our little ones about life threatening food allergies in, Kyle Dine and Friends Food Allergy Awareness Video. He has educated thousands worldwide and created a new sense for normal for kids with food allergies with his engaging personality and fun puppets. I can’t thank him enough for this work and videos!
BUT. And this is a big but (pun intended to please my inner 13 year old boy humor), what about teens and adults?
A little song might be nice for us too. Enter long time food allergy teen advocate Kendall Hollinger. Not only does Kendall speak at events, raises awareness and ice skates, she is a quite talented singer. Kendall joined forces with Reed Pake to record this very lovely song, “What’s It’s Like” .
Written and recorded by Reed, featuring Kendall, the song invites us into their lives for a few brief moments to understand their world with food allergies. The rap is easy to understand and Kendall’s soothing voice is light, airy and heart wrenching. I know Kendall personally, so I can see her soul in this song, which truly pulls at my own heartstrings. These are real people with real struggles that pushed them into adult coping and challenges at a young age.
Kendall is releasing her own album based on fourteen songs she wrote and performs herself. It is not a rap album, but is based on her life. She hosting a release album concert on September 16, 2016 on Long Beach, CA. Her talent is amazing and I’m especially in awe when I think about all of her health challenges she faces daily. The girl is not a quitter to say the least.
A few years ago, I was honored to witness Kendall’s second (the first taking place the evening before), meal outside of her home. We were all at the Southpoint Hotel Casino and Spa for a food allergy walk. Chef Keith Norman worked with Kendall previously and was able to create a meal to meet her complex allergic needs. I had tears in my eyes. I think only another food allergy parent would understand that moment, when Kendall was experiencing normal teen moment–eating out.
Bravo to Reed and Kendall for giving us a new tool to help educate others and to possibly even provide a tool for parents to share with their own kids to kick off their conversation. Bigger kudos to Kendall for truly using her voice to raise awareness. By raising awareness, we create a new normal and save lives.
Happy Listening!
Disclaimer: I was not paid by anyone to write this post and to love all over Kendall’s gifts (and of course Kyle Dine). My goal is always to support our community is positive ways to share items I believe they might find useful.
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..