The day of loooooove is soon upon us, and although a simple Valentine is sufficient, sometimes we (okay, I) like to go a little further and offer up some treats for the kiddies, as well. Problem is, there are about a zillion allergies out there, so we have to be careful with what we give them.
When accommodating life-threatening allergies, is there a point at which we have to draw the line? How far should we go, in a school setting, to protect kids with these allergies? A Hamilton mother has filed a complaint to the Human Rights Commission, stating that her daughter's school discriminated against her daughter and failed to protect her from life-threatening allergens.
One of the major frustrations I have when I discuss food allergies with people is hearing someone claim they're allergic to something when, in reality, they (at most) suffer from a food intolerance. There's a big difference between food allergies and food intolerances, and the distinction is imperative. Where one can cause uncomfortable effects, the other can potentially kill.
Explaining severe food allergies to kids is a challenge; explaining to their peers is even harder. Whether you're a parent just trying to get a handle on your child's severe food allergies, or a teen learning to self-advocate, there are a ton of books out there for you.
Here's a round-up of great books about severe allergies and anaphylaxis for kids of all ages (and parents) that can be purchased or borrowed from your local library:
There are never any guarantees that a dose of epinephrine will save your life in the event of an anaphylactic reaction, but you've got a whole lot better chance of survival than if you're not carrying your EpiPen.
I was approached on Twitter about reviewing this cute little book, and I'm giving away the copy that was sent to me for review. It's the perfect tale for young kids, and would make an excellent addition to a preschool or kindergarten classroom! The story is simple to understand, easy to follow, and has simple, teachable lessons for small kids.
On September 30, 2003 a 13-year-old girl named Sabrina Shannon was taken off life support and died; her cause of death was anaphylaxis. Sabrina went into anaphylactic shock after eating lunch in her school cafeteria. The coroner determined that tongs used to serve Sabrina's French fries had also been used to serve poutine, and that Sabrina's reaction was a result of residue from the cheese curds (she was severely allergic to dairy) left on the tongs. It's unfathomable, isn't it? That a child can die from something so seemingly innocuous?
So did you read about the latest peanut allergy study? It tells us that if only we had eaten more nuts during pregnancy, our kids would be less likely to have peanut allergies. One-third less likely, as a matter of fact. That's quite a benefit to eating nuts, isn't it? Especially when we've been told for many years to avoid them while pregnant, right?
Allergies don't take a vacation during the holidays. There's a spike in reported allergies this time of year, quite often because our homes are closed for winter, and we're dealing with dust, dust mites, mould, and other indoor allergens. I posted some helpful tips HERE for surviving winter allergies, but hadn't really considered just how allergy-filled our holiday decor may be.
When I began to suspect my son's reactions as an infant were somehow linked to food allergies, I started logging them. I'd track the foods I ate, and the reactions he'd have. Long before we ever met our allergist, I had a list a mile long of questions I needed answers to, and even then, I felt nervous about his diagnosis. There's so much to know about all kinds of severe allergies, and even now that we've had three-and-a-half years' worth of experience with his severe allergies, he throws us nice curveballs regularly so we don't get too comfortable.
Walmart brand Great Value has two sets of candy cane packages, both labelled "Peanut Free" on the front, but they warn, "May contain tree nuts" on the back of the package.
Stoney Creek Public School sent a letter home to parents detailing various foods that are restricted from a classroom. Some were because students have anaphylactic allergies, and then a couple are for religious reasons. I read the letter and then my brain up and exploded.
Food allergies affect more than 7 percent of the Canadian population, and it certainly seems like allergies are on the rise in children. When my son was born (four years ago to the day, as a matter of fact), common practice was to delay introduction of common food allergens (eggs, nuts, fishes) until at least one year, to protect babies from developing allergies.
Well, on my son's fourth birthday, there's been a new development in these theories.
Ok, so it's no hovercar, but I feel like this new invention has propelled us into the far future, people. There's a new device in production called TellSpec, and it has the potential to absolutely change the lives of food allergy sufferers forever. With just a quick scan, the device can tell you the content of your food. Can you imagine not having to take anyone's word for what's in that pasta you order in a restaurant? Can you imagine being able to detect minute amounts of gluten or nuts?
Not everyone knows about allergies, much to the dismay of those who suffer from them. I asked around on social media, and I've collected some of the whackiest/most annoying/dumbest things people have said to those who have allergies.
Have you heard any of these? If you've said them, don't admit it. Just don't say them again, deal?
Every day my inbox fills with approximately eleventy gazillion Google Alerts filled with news and reports on allergies, every anaphylactic, and honestly, it's a pretty overwhelming Inbox of Doom. For the most part, though, I eagerly read these articles, and I generally agree with the opinion pieces about how the world needs a little more empathy in helping people with life-threatening allergies.
If you're anything like me (and I'm betting most of you are), lunch-packing is left to the last minute every single day. It's a morning frenzy around here as I rifle through my cupboards and wonder if uncooked oats would go over well with the kids. (The answer is always NO.) Between working around their preferences and food restrictions for their individual classrooms, sometimes it's enough to make me scream. Or cry. Or just ask someone else to pleasepleaseplease pack their lunches. Please?
Nothing feels more isolating than the discovery of severe allergies. Whether it's you or your kids, it feels like leaving the house is as daring as a Grand Canyon tightrope walk. When life can be snuffed out by an allergy to one wee little peanut, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, I know.
But you're not alone; allergy support is as close as Facebook.
