Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting to Dr Nina Markovic on the Immunity Group Australia Podcast and we discussed a topic that is incredibly close to my heart: what it is like to raise a child with food allergies and how the journey of doing so ultimately led me to create My Med Pouch.
As a parent of a child living with food allergies and asthma, I understand the daily responsibility that comes with keeping essential medications close at hand and being prepared for emergencies. Like many allergy parents, I found myself carrying EpiPens, antihistamines, inhalers and action plans, in a disorganised way, that made them difficult to access when needed.
What began as a personal challenge eventually became the inspiration behind My Med Pouch.
From Lawyer to My Med Pouch Founder
Before starting My Med Pouch, I spent many years working in commercial litigation law. While I enjoyed my legal career, my family's experience navigating food allergies and asthma opened my eyes to a problem that so many other families were facing.
There never seemed to be a practical, organised and stylish way to carry essential allergy and asthma medications. I wanted a solution that would help families feel more prepared and give them confidence that their medications were always together and easy to access when needed.
That idea ultimately became My Med Pouch. You can learn more about the Med Ready Bag that I had custom designed here.
Turning Lived Experience Into Innovation
One of the themes we discussed on the podcast was how lived experience can drive innovation.
As parents, we spend a lot of time solving everyday problems for our children. Sometimes those solutions can help other families too.
Creating My Med Pouch allowed me to take something that was causing stress and frustration in our daily lives and turn it into a product designed to support other families managing food allergies, asthma and childhood illnesses generally.
It has been incredibly rewarding to hear from parents, carers and grandparents who tell me that their Med Ready Bag helps them feel safer and more prepared when they're on the go.
Raising Children with Food Allergies
Living with food allergies affects so much more than what happens at mealtimes.
Families know that every school excursion, birthday party, sporting event and holiday requires planning and preparation. Carrying emergency medication isn't just important, it's essential.
During the podcast, Nina and I discussed the realities of raising children with food allergies, the importance of being prepared, and the role that awareness and education play in keeping children safe.
I also shared some of the lessons I've learned along the way as both a parent and an advocate within the allergy community.
Lessons in Entrepreneurship and Resilience
Building a business from the ground up has been one of the biggest challenges and rewards of my life.
Like many entrepreneurs, I started with an idea and a desire to make a difference. The journey has required resilience, continuous learning and a willingness to step outside my comfort zone.
For anyone thinking about starting a business or bringing an idea to life, my advice is simple:
- Start before you feel ready.
- Focus on solving a genuine problem.
- Listen to your customers.
- Be prepared to learn along the way.
- Stay connected to your "why".
Many meaningful innovations begin with someone simply trying to make life a little easier for their own family.
Listen to the Full Podcast Episode
In this episode of the Immunity Group Australia Podcast, Nina and I discuss:
- Raising children with food allergies
- Managing asthma and allergy preparedness
- The inspiration behind My Med Pouch
- Entrepreneurship and resilience
- Advocacy within the allergy community
- Practical advice for parents with a business idea
I hope my story encourages other parents who are navigating food allergies, pursuing a business idea, or simply looking for ways to make everyday life a little easier.
🎧 You can watch the podcast episode here - or listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.