My Allergies and Me: A new customizable video to educate those around us
Announcing new way to educate other adults that care for your child about food allergies.
Food Allergies Through the Eyes of a Parent
The words resonated loud and clear as I listened to a quadriplegic motivational speaker say “I’d rather be a quadriplegic than a parent of one.” I feel lost. I don’t understand. I feel helpless at times. I’m not living the life of a food allergic child. How can I relate and help my child? These [...]
Food allergy denial and the illusion of control
One day near the end of my 38th year, I faced my own mortality. It wasn’t a major event or a dramatic near-death experience. It was simply reading a story of the tragic passing of 13 year old Emily Vonder Meulen. For several months now I have been rationalizing my recent major allergic reactions to [...]
Refrigerator broke…we failed the challenge
I look down…water on the floor? I rationalize and think that the kids must have spilled water from the water dispenser. Oh no, that would have been too easy! As I investigate further the water is everywhere in the frig. Great…the frig just broke. The thought of losing all of the food rang ‘wasted money’ [...]
To Epi-Pen or Not to Epi-Pen? That was the difficult question.
My Confession: Sometimes when I have an allergic reaction, I rationalize not using my Epi-Pen.
My rationalization takes a bit of explanation. Within two or three minutes after the start of any allergic reaction to tree nuts, I instinctively answer two questions.
Question 1: Did I just eat a tree nut? I then immediately seek evidence of the texture or the sensation that initiated the question — either by spiting out everything in my mouth to look for it, examining any remaining food, reviewing overlooked ingredients on a label, asking a waiter about the ingredients or possibly of cross-contamination. If the answer is Yes the next question can a little bit harder to answer.
How did I ever survive childhood without a 504 plan?
Because of these mixed feelings it is hard for me to fully support 504 plans; but then I am not an allergy mom. I can only imagine the anxiety of trusting adults that I don’t know to keep my child safe. I am an allergy sufferer…or survivor according to my sister-in-law Kelly. Yet I have no idea how I did in fact survive my childhood, school and birthday parties and sleep overs. There were little to no accommodations made for me at school. My babysitters did not get special training about food preparation. So I am really puzzled, how did I ever survive?
To my surprise allergic reaction at lunch: You Suck
After my three plus decades of doing a decent job of avoiding tree nuts, I really get annoyed when they sneak their way into my food. I mean, the nerve!
Divvies rescued our family again…
That’s right, Divvies rescued our family again. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run out to WholeFoods to buy Divvies’ cookies for those unexpected celebrations or just because I’m tired or don’t have time to cook. Now, Divvies has a fabulous cookbook for sale. The cookbook has recipe after recipe of fun exciting food [...]
Success traveling with food allergies
We did it! A simple task to some but to us a huge milestone. We successfully had a long weekend away from home. I took Matthew to visit my family. The plane ride was a huge success. I was nervous the entire time even though I wiped down everything…seat belt, window, arm rest and tray. [...]
Hurray for new law requiring breastfeeding rooms at work!
As reported on CNN.com, on page 1239 of the health care bill that President Obama recently signed into law, employers are now required to provide: “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast [...]
