GreenSmoothieGirl Logo
Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Minutes. Add 10 Years to your life.
Our beautiful template for infinite variety of greens and superfoods in your smoothies—print this and eliminate the need for recipes! Get it now for free!

Introducing the Cornia Family: GreenSmoothieGirl Makeover [part 4 of 4]


Robyn Openshaw - Feb 22, 2011 - This Post May Contain Affiliate Links


Our third selection is the video that moved me to tears as I watched it. You know how I feel about young moms. You knew I’d pick a young mom. This was our most difficult choice–but BlendTec and I were unanimous with each of the three picks.

Samantha Cornia is only 25 years old and has four children. Everyone in her home struggles with MRSA infections–staph that is immune to antibiotics. That’s because they’re constantly on antibiotics and other prescriptions, like steroids.

You’ll hear more of her story as we release segments of their journey, on YouTube and here. Her 3rd child was born with all her organs outside her body. When my baby was very ill, a woman named Ginger Ford whose son had the same syndrome, spent a year pumping breast milk while her baby was in the NICU having many surgeries to get his organs put inside his body. She gave all of that breast milk to me. (I was under a lot of stress and was very underweight, 115 lbs. at over 5’8″. My own milk disappeared and my baby refused most foods and was allergic to the rest, like Samantha’s baby.) Largely thanks to her, my baby recovered and thrived. I told Ginger that if I could ever do anything for her–anything at all–I want that opportunity, because she helped save my baby’s life in a very intimate way.

As I watched Samantha’s video, I wrote in my notes, “She reminds me of me. When I was her age.” Very ill. So tired of drugging my babies and watching them struggle. Desperate for something else, something better than drugs and fatigue.

What a crucible for powerful change that awful place in my life turned out to be. Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we climb out.

Samantha’s youngest is 14 mo. old and has massive food allergies and won’t eat. He’s on lots of steroids and recently had an upper GI and colonoscopy–his esophagus is swollen and raw and he cries constantly. He falls asleep at night clutching his throat. He is a heartbreakingly gorgeous little boy, and you will fall in love with him on film.

I am ecstatic to work with the Cornia family of Lehi, Utah. They are big soda drinkers, and until attending my Junk Food Dude book reading last weekend, they’d never had a green smoothie.

They don’t generally eat whole foods. Samantha’s parents struggle with obesity, and she was raised on what she calls “Mormon Mom casseroles.” When a friend suggested a few years ago that she visit GreenSmoothieGirl.com, she said, “Green Smoothie Gross!”

Now Samantha finds herself in a very different place in her life. Devastating health problems have humbled her, and she finds her mind and heart open to change.

(Make a mental note of that. Those who mock you now, for taking a whole-foods path, may be on your porch begging for mentoring a few years from now. When they’re ready, they know where to go.)

Please stay tuned for more from the Cornias, and watch their sweet video here.

Posted in: Lifestyle, Relationships, Whole Food

15 thoughts on “Introducing the Cornia Family: GreenSmoothieGirl Makeover [part 4 of 4]”

Leave a Comment
  1. Anonymous says:

    Wow! There are so many people out there who need this information! It must be simultaneously exciting and overwhelming for you Robyn, wishing you could help everyone! I think this show is a brilliant idea — it will grow your business and reach and educate far more people than you ever have been able to before!

  2. Anonymous says:

    I by no means have the challenges that this family faces but I feel that I can relate to her plea for her 14 month old to eat. My son who is now 19 months didn’t start eating until about 2 months ago and we also struggled with food intolerance (we never had him tested because his reactions eventually subsided.) And I too struggled with the amount of time and energy it takes to nurse full time, a child who is so old and be conscious about the food that I ate so that he didn’t suffer. My son now eats almost everything I put in front of him, although, unfortunately still refuses to try my green smoothies! I just want to encourage her to know that this may only be a season, a short one in the grand scheme of things. How awesome that the Lord has provided her a way to nourish him so completely up to this point.

  3. Anonymous says:

    What a touching video!! Made my cry my eyes out.

    I have seen so many gains in my health from drinking green-smoothies (which I’d never really heard of until I saw this site!). I swear I just don’t get sick anymore. I’ve also seen my kids change from saying GROSS when they saw me drinking them, to asking to try them and now they ask for more when I don’t give them enough!! Now they almost never get sick, and when they do it lasts days only.

    I hope with all my heart that Green-Smoothie Girl’s help will change everything for you!!

  4. Anonymous says:

    Those children are just precious. So glad be we’ll be seeing more of this family.

  5. Anonymous says:

    oh boy, i can’t wait to see how your lives will change for the better. there is light at the end of the tunnel and good health and happiness too! beautiful family!

  6. Anonymous says:

    What a strong Mom! I know a lot of mothers who feel the same plea. They want to change, but don’t know how. This will be so amazing for everyone to watch. I want it to start RIGHT now!!

  7. Anonymous says:

    okay robyn… if these are the winners, i can’t imagine how many tissues you went through to choose them. when those babies said “come help us green smoothie girl”… robyn, you are changing people. thank you thank you thank you for all that you do. you have changed me and my family and i thank you. 🙂

  8. So glad you picked this cute little mom. She made me cry.

  9. Anonymous says:

    I am in the same exact position with her 14 month old except he is 11 months. Its such a struggle and I am totally excited to see this one!

  10. Anonymous says:

    These choices are so inspired, Robyn. Thanks so much. This mother of young children and the illnesses she is and has suffered will be an inspiration to my daughter in law who suffers from chronic illness. Following and seeing the improvements will speak volumes to so many in need of good food choices. I have dabbled in and out of going green and whole food…I am making a commitment to DO IT! The thing is I KNOW IT WORKS, when I eat this way I see the difference, when I revert back to the wrong things…I pay for it in aches, pains, weight gain, moods. I just finished the 21 day detox Green Smoothie challenge and I am now on a deeper cleanse in preparation for my LIFE OF WHOLE FOODS and the 12 Step Program to Whole Foods. I guess, I have been a slow learner or study…as I know in my mind it is the right way…yet I have not committed to it as a LIFESTYLE. Now, I am and I support all of you that will be leading the way and sharing your journey. Much love, love those little children of yours..they are so sweet. May God bless you and your family

  11. Anonymous says:

    Hello Samantha,

    Unless you have no other choice do not let the government vaccinates any of those kids, and gradually switch from cooked food to raw fresh fruits preferably organic and to green smoothies, of course.

    Children instinctively love nature and enjoy being in contact with it so once you all are on a fruit diet you can start taking sunbaths in your backyard, the beach (No beaches in Utah?) and/or public parks.

    Also it is recommended to breast feed the babies until they are about three years old, cow milk or so-called baby formula is contaminated and unnatural for humans.

    Electronic radiation is killing the US population; avoid if possible the use of cell phones, and microwave ovens and if possible avoid too much television. The best remedy for harmful electronic radiation is contact with nature: barefoot contact with Mother Earth, sunlight every day, is possible, swimming, walking and eventually jogging.

    Now you can purchase simple equipment to naturally ground yourself (contact with mother Earth or grounding is also is called Earthing) while sleeping or at the computer.

    Many people have been healed of all kind of maladies by Earthing or grounding be that walking barefooted on grass, sand or dirt at least half an hour a day and/ or purchasing the grounding equipment sold at Amazon.com by Clinton Ober including his book Earthing The Most Important health Discovery Ever?

    To be fit and healthy takes dedication but that discipline can bring great health and joy to anyone.

  12. Anonymous says:

    WOW! Six in one. Good choice, Robyn.

    God bless you.

  13. Anonymous says:

    ~Wow~ My 12 month old does eat but barely and she’s had the whole workup that Samantha’s 14 month old has had. The Docs are thinking its something called eosinophilic esophagitis. (Might explain Samantha’s sons sore throat and clutching it in pain…). I look forward to seeing what you do to help this family out. My own baby has tons of food allergies and while she is finally eating (a recent accomplishment) she still gags a lot and has severe reflux that she is medicated for. We eat a very subterranean and Asian diet at our house with some SAD thrown in. I look forward to seeing their story unfold.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Jolene that is exactly what he has, when I made this video we didn’t have the results back. His test came back with is eosinophils at 60 which is really high. They have us putting him on steriods for 6 months and that is not something that we want to do. Which is why we are so excited to be working with Robyn. Thanks for everyone’s support!

  15. Robyn,

    What’s the latest on Samantha and her family?

    DeAndra

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Skip to content