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12

September 23 • 2010

ALLERGIES

Living Free from page 10

HUFFINGTON

National Council of JewistiWorrien

Health & Fitness

in our minds was when Alex was 4
years old. Her daddy held her in his
arms in our driveway, praying for an
ambulance to come quickly because
she ate one tiny peanut and was hav-
ing a life-threatening anaphylactic
reaction.
Many people don't fully understand
that Alex, and other children like her,
aren't just limited by the foods they
have to avoid. Their lives, and the lives
of their families, are consumed with
the constant management and moni-
toring of the food around them, read-
ing every label to find safe options for
them eat, making sure there has been
no cross contamination with their
allergen; assuring that others caring
for them are knowledgeable about how
to use their rescue medications, and
living in fear that one accidental expo-
sure could take their life.
Alex eats in the same seat every day
in the cafeteria and knows to be sure
that the child next to her and the two
across from her are not eating peanut
products. She brings her own wet nap
to school to clean off her area in case
there is any peanut residue and then
eats her lunch on a paper towel in her
lunch box, just in case.
She eats in the cafeteria, knowing
other kids may be eating PB&J, and
does this just so she can be as much
"like the other kids." Her only other
option would be to eat lunch secluded
in the principal's office. Thankfully,
she is not one of the many "airborne"
allergic children; and so we do our
best to support this, all the while pray-
ing and holding our breath each time
the phone rings and it is her school
calling.
While it is heartbreaking to have
to monitor each and every thing
they eat, what they are around, and
even things that may contain food
allergens like lotions, soaps, school
projects, art materials and more,
the hardest part for parents is to
have their children feel different
every single day, every meal, every
snack. Truly, the most difficult thing,
is the social anxiety and exclusion
that Alex and other children experi-
ence due to their food allergies.
Alex has never been able to buy
lunch at school, take a cookie from
a bakery, go to a circus or baseball
game for fear of peanuts. There are
few restaurants where she can eat
and then she has to listen to one of us
confirm over and over that it is safe
for her.
At most parties and school func-

tions, she needs her own "safe snack"
and has learned to smile when she
eats her "back-up, just-in-case pret-
zels" while other kids are enjoying
Rice Krispies Treats or cupcakes.
Alex has had to grow up fast in
some ways due to her food aller-
gies. She reads labels, speaks about
her allergies, questions if foods are
safe and doesn't take any risks. She
has an amazing empathy and com-
passion toward others, in part, from
what she has endured.
We also have been blessed with
many friends that have gone out
of their way to support Alex and to
try to include her as much as pos-
sible by providing safe treats at their
events. Their actions of consider-
ation and generosity have brought
the most beautiful smiles to her face.
At such a young age, even though
she has been impacted by some
people's ignorance or lack of con-
cern, more importantly she has seen
the ultimate goodness and kindness
of people. These experiences will
forever shape her.
The memory of how she wound
up in an ambulance after eating one
tiny piece of peanut and knowing
she could die stays with her family
daily. The thought of a food causing
a potentially life-threatening reac-
tion to anyone is something that we
should not accept as a society.
Food allergic reactions can hap-
pen to anyone, any age, anywhere,
with or without warning or past
reactions. More than 12 million
Americans have food allergies. That
is one in every 25, including one out
of every 17 children under age 3.
Food allergies are increasing rapidly
and no one knows exactly why they
have doubled in the last decade.
However, there is amazing research
being conducted to help treat those
with food allergies; scientists and
doctors are working steadily toward
a cure.
I and millions of other parents
cannot wait to see the smile on our
children's faces when one day they no
longer have to worry about food hurt-
ing them.

❑

For more on the 2010 FAAN Walk
for Food Allergy and Allergen
Friendly Carnival on Sept. 25,
go to www.FoodAllergyWalk.org
or to the Facebook page at Food
Allergy Connection.

