Contact!

Browsing around the place (as you do), I found a sample letter provided by the Food Allergy Project that we can all fill-in and email to our Congressmen and Representatives in which we request they do everything they can to increase funding for food allergy research!

I've emailed my Senators, and my Rep.

Now, if were only that easy to actually get solutions for Food Allergies! Any takers??

Package received

The lads have a fresh supply of peanut free Quaker Granola bars!! Yay! Thank goodness for the manufacturers in Canada that produce these wonderful products. If only the US manufacturers would do the same, it would be easier (and cheaper) to buy locally rather than via the web. I contacted Quaker US customer support to ask whether there were any plans for PN free products; the answer was no - and - there was no interest at all. I can't believe how short-sighted these people are. Oh well, I'm very glad the web is there.

Not only do Canadian manufacturers have PN safe granola bars, but Nestle *also* have PN &TN free Mars bars, KitKats and Aero bars.. I know sweets should be the least of anyones worry, but I never thought L would get the chance to even try the chocolates that we all take for granted.

In fact, I try not to let him feel like he's missed out at all when he can't have what everyone else eats. Its important to keep sight of the big picture - there are people out there without water, food, clothing or shelter - is it really that important that a child can't always eat what others have? I think not.

We are lucky for what we have.

We are doubly lucky that we can get products that are safe for our children. Yay Canada! US manufacturers - you guys have a long way to go. There is a huge untapped market you have turned your backs on: not only the people that are allergic, but the schools, caregivers, friends and extended families that interact with and care for allergic people. Changing manufacturing practices, even for a limited product size would show compassion and understanding, *and* you would get lots of great publicity while making lots of $$ too. To me, this is a no brainer.

Once one manufacturer starts being truely allergy aware, the others will have to follow, or lose a large market share.

Dithering

I'm still dithering over whether to send L to our local school, or whether to keep him at his current school for another year.

His allergy makes me fear for his safety, and I think he's a too little to be really able to look after himself. So I guess his current school is where he'll stay.

But he will be *so* disappointed not to go to big boy school! With his brother! Must think of a creative way to tell him.

RAST blood test results..

Two weeks ago, L had blood drawn to measure the amount of allergy antibody is in his blood for various types of foods, pollens etc. He was really brave - watched the phlebotomist draw the blood.. no crying at all. He was amazing. I was NOT. On the way out, I started feeling very lightheaded. I made it down the stairs then decided to 'rest' on a bench for a few minutes. I didn't want L to see me faint!

We got the results of the test on Tuesday. I've been trying to ignore them, I guess. For nuts, his kIU/litre (kilo international units per litre) was not too high (he *might* outgrow them).

His peanut was pretty high. According to researchers, it is unlikely he will outgrow the peanut allergy. Bummer. No matter how much you prepare for living with allergies for a lifetime, the actual news still knocks you for a sixer.

He's also very allergic to dust mites, cats and dogs, some types of tree and grass pollens, and dry moulds (whatever they are).

Sorry to be on a downer today.

We also had a Mothers day celebration and his school.. usually they ask me to bring a treat for him, but this time they didn't, and I forgot to ask. So instead of staying around and enjoying the company of the others, we left. There were cookies and cupcakes and pastries.. none of which he could have. L kept asking.. why can't we stay, Mummy?

On the way home we visited PomsRUs and bought some safe chocolate (kinder surprise, choccie buttons and also some fruit chews). Then we went home and ate them, and watched the Magic Schoolbus. Not a bad ending for the day.

Arrgghhh!

When I first enrolled L in an after-school activity, I spent time explaining to and training the supervisors about allergies. I was very clear that he is NOT to have any food from anywhere other than home. He takes his snack and EpiPen with him when he goes. Today, I find out they went on a 'field trip' to a local park, and that he ate 4 pieces of cheese pizza.

"The teacher said it was safe because it didn't have any nuts." I also don't know whether they took the EpiPen with them on their 'field trip'

Since I found out I've had a bad headache, and my stress level has shot through the roof. As parents, we try as hard as possible to keep our kids safe, and it seems no matter how hard we try, someone doesn't get it. .. doesn't get how severe and dangerous food allergies can be.

Pizza is a reasonably safe food, but still, we call the restaurant first to make sure there isn't any chance of cross-contamination with any nut recipes they make. This time we weren't given the chance. Thank goodness it turned out ok.

I also reminded L that he should tell the teachers they have to call me before giving him any food.

Tomorrow, we need to talk to the teachers.

FA Support group meeting this morning!

Our food allergy support group met this morning. It was great to see two new members attending! It is a buzz to know we've started a group which can help support other parents of food-allergic kids.