About Us

In 2002, Jill Urwick received the devastating news that her 5 year old son had autism. Immediately, she began researching options for treatment.  To her surprise, she not only discovered that many children were improving by implementing behavioral and educational therapies, but she also found that nutritional interventions and the use of natural approaches were quite effective in reducing the symptoms of autism.   Fueled with this information and a single-minded commitment to do whatever it took to get her son back, Jill and her husband Lee initiated an integrative program which included Applied Behavior Analysis with Verbal Behavior and  strict dietary interventions.  Additionally, under the care of a well trained Defeat Autism Now! (or biomedical) MD, they identified and successfully treated several medical conditions.  Eventually, as a result of the combined approach, their son’s behavior, speech, attention and general health improved tremendously.

In 2003, while her son with autism was making remarkable progress, her eldest son (then 7) was diagnosed with ADHD.  In an effort to understand the underlying causes of what is now referred to as “the new childhood epidemics of ADHD and Autism”,  and more importantly obtain information on what she as a parent could do to save both of her sons, Jill decided to attend her first Defeat Autism Now! Conference.

After 3 days of intensive lectures, Jill felt as if she had hit the proverbial jackpot! Although there was a tremendous amount of work involved in implementing the knowledge she gained from the conference, including changing both her boys’ diet and giving various supplements, she now had answers and concrete solutions.  As a result of the progress her sons made, Jill vowed to help other parents understand and implement the treatments that had been so successful for her children.

Maureen McDonnell, RN has been a pediatric nurse for over 30 years.  Although she has been an advocate of natural approaches for healing since entering nursing school at Seton Hall University in the early 1970s, it wasn’t until her son was born with Bacterial Meningitis (at which time she was informed by his neurologist that his condition was grave and could result in deafness, blindness or mental retardation), that she took her knowledge of and commitment to natural healing to a whole new level.   In addition to a course of IV antibiotics in the neonatal intensive care unit, Maureen began breastfeeding her son Sean, juicing, making all of his food from organic produce and researching ways to minimize the long term impact of that often fatal infection.  After 3 months, she was informed by the same pediatric neurologist that Sean had no residual symptoms from the meningitis.  Because this was a rare outcome, the neurologist was astounded (and although himself not a proponent of natural methods), he applauded the additional interventions that he stated were most likely responsible for the child’s complete and remarkable recovery.

The experience inspired Maureen to expand her understanding of nutrition and natural methods of healing.  In her work as a nurse both within and outside the hospital environment, she introduced natural or alternative methods (either in conjunction with traditional medicine or in some cases alone) to all of her patients and clients.  In addition to 15 years of working in labor and delivery, the newborn nursery and pediatrics, eventually under the medical supervision of a former Yale Medical School professor and nutritionally oriented MD, she opened her own nutritional counseling practice. 

By making appropriate dietary changes and adding specific nutrient support Maureen  assisted hundreds of clients improve symptoms associated with conditions such as: chronic fatigue, migraines, elevated cholesterol, hypertension, weight gain, depression, PMS, menopausal symptoms, ADHD, autism, allergies, asthma, etc., 
 
In her journey as a nurse, mother, nutritionist, the decade long position as the Defeat Autism Now! National Conference Coordinator and now as a grandmother, Maureen has become an outspoken advocate for improving the health of children through good nutrition and minimizing their exposure to toxins in the environment.

After contacting the national coordinator of the Defeat Autism Now! Conference (Maureen McDonnell, RN) and convincing her to bring the Mini-Defeat Autism Now! Conference to Jill’s hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, the two women began their collaboration.   In 2007 they co-created the concept of the Saving Our Kids, Healing Our Planet, a Green Expo focused on the impact nutrition and the environment have on children’s health.  Their mutual goal is to provide the most accurate information on nutrition and eco-friendly options for the home and school environment.  At SOKHOP there will be interactive demonstrations, lectures and exhibits for parents, teachers, pediatricians, children, therapists etc. on the best ways to improve the health of children, minimize the symptoms associated with the new childhood epidemics and ways to green the home and school environment.

After seeing their own children through the recovery process, and encountering thousands of other parents with sick children, Maureen and Jill feel that it is time to bring this very real, very practical and very timely message to parents, teachers and health care professionals.

There is no greater resource than the health of our children and by teaming up with experts in the fields of nutrition and green living, Maureen and Jill plan on getting their message of ways to Save our Kids, Heal our Planet out to everyone who has the good sense to listen!