Thank You Evan and Eric Edwards…My Boys Have Their Allerjects

In 1998, my eldest son, Michael was 2 years old…suffering from severe eczema, multiple food allergies, sensitivities and asthma. At the end of the year, I gave birth to my second son, Matthew…only to discover, years later, he also had food allergies, eczema and asthma.

Who knew, that same year, 18 year old twin brothers, Evan and Eric Edwards, (allergies include peanut/tree nuts, shellfish, fish and antibiotics), had sketched on a napkin...a design for an auto-injector that would fit inside their blue jeans pocket.

An activity that ultimately…determined the brothers’ educational paths (pharmaceutical science/medicine and engineering)…career paths (founded a specialty pharmaceutical company named Intelliject)…business decision (Sanofi bought the North American licensing rights to the new auto-injector)…and created, some 15 years later, the first voice-prompted auto-injector…Allerject.

Click here for a link to their site. Take note of their offer for a free Allerject trainer and Allerject carrying case per household.

I first learned of Allerject from my Winter 2013 Allergic Living Magazine…there was an Allerject advertisement plus…a fantastic article written by Mary Esselman titled, “The Auto-Injector That Talks”. (The information for this post derives mostly from this article.)

I received my copy (December 2012) just days before heading out for the boys’ annual allergy testing at the allergist…I brought it along. My allergist was surprised to see that Allerject was almost ready to ‘hit the shelves’…at this point, Allerject was awaiting approval from Health Canada…hopefully becoming available in early 2013.

The allergist wrote a prescription for both the boys for Epi Pens and Allerjects…thus becoming the allergist’s very first written prescription for Allerject.

As the boys’ Epi Pens expired this month…I was eager to get to the pharmacy to fill their prescriptions for Allerject. I was pleased to discover…not only was Allerject available but the pharmacy had an Allerject trainer.

I have to say…I think the pharmacist and her assistant were just as eager to try out the Allerject trainer as I was…it was very cool.

My favourite quote from Mary Esselman’s article:

” ‘When I see it come in front of me in a pharmacy bag, that’s when reality will set in,’ said Eric. ’Wow, we finally did something. We did something that we originally set out to do that one day when we were sketching a credit card thing with a retractable needle on a napkin. That’s when I think I’ll be most excited.’ “

Surprising my boys with the Edward twins ‘dream come true’…their very own Allerject…priceless!

Allerject fits in the palm of your hand.

Michael just loves it…perfect for a teen that is uncomfortable carrying around a bulky auto-injector. Allerject has fit into his life at an ideal time.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you for dreaming big…thank you for following your dream…thank you for proving that taking what you know (I need to carry an auto-injector because I have anaphylaxis) to solve that which you don’t know (how can I improve this auto-injector so it is easy to carry around, easy to use and teen friendly) is do-able…that dreams really can come true no matter how big.

P.S. I have just received my free Allerject trainer to practice with my boys, family members, friends and staff at my boys’ high school. Yippee!

The Allerject trainer is well marked and a totally different colour than the actual Allerject.

I will be heading to the high-school today with a letter outlining the boys’ new auto-injector…Allerject. I will be speaking to the Vice-Principal to discuss the best method of training for the administration of the Allerject to the boys’ immediate teachers and overall high-school staff. I hope they are excited about this opportunity as I am!

P.P.S. The United States equivalent to the Allerject is called the Auvi-Q. Click here for a link to their site.

Will you be choosing the Allerject/Auvi-Q for your next auto-injector for yourself or your child? How will the Allerject/Auvi-Q make a difference in your life? If you have one already…what do you think?

Knitting…A Fun Outlet For Stress

Since January 2013, I began a new journey of stress relief…although, at times, my husband would beg to differ…knitting.

A gift certificate from The Kniterary from my mother at Christmas was the start of my journey.

I struggled through my first set of lessons…learning to cast on, knit, pearl and cast off…my scarf/cowl.

Still a work in progress….note the dangling piece of yarn…would like it to go around my neck at least twice.

My second set of knitting lessons at The Kniterary…learning to read a pattern, knitting in the round, increasing, decreasing…finally lead to a finished product…a hat!

I just love this hat…want one in every colour now! Note the addition of the little flower I stitched on the edge.

My third set of knitting lessons at The Kniterary…learning to follow a more complicated pattern (intermediate) involving knitting with a second colour, sleeves, neck shaping, I-Cord trim, sewing seams, blocking…led to my second completed project…a baby sweater!

Note the cute ‘flower button’ I knitted to represent a ‘violet’.

Many trips to my avid knitting neighbour, Anna Mae, has led to a new friendship…many trips to The Kniterary for Martina’s calming instructionals has led to a new mentor…many sets of lessons with the lovely ladies in my knitting classes has led to many new friendships…priceless!

All in all I have found a new community of friendships…a kinship in knitting…another outlet for stress!

Knitting is certainly something I never saw myself ever attempting let alone accomplishing. Even though knitting, for me, may appear to those around me as stress inducing… overall, it has given me a great deal of satisfaction.

The creative side of me loves the challenges…not to mention all the gorgeous coloured wool…the social side of me loves the interaction with the other knitters and the loner in me loves the solitude of knitting.

Knitting may have started as another escape from the food allergies, eczema and asthma issues at home…but in the end, it has introduced me to others whose lives have been touched by the many medical conditions that are out there now…it has made me feel so much less alone.

I need to remind myself…although it seems that the grass is ‘always greener on the other side’…it may seem that way until you actually get there.

I have since knitted another hat and taken a ‘cable’ course…gifts for my Secret Sister Swap hosted by My 1/2 Dozen Daily.

I loved the ‘cable mug warmer’ so much…I bought myself a portable mug so I can knit myself one. It will be perfect to take to the boys’ hockey games next season…the flowers and buttons were my own personal touch.

As for the gorgeous baby sweater…

…it was given as a special gift for a little girl named Violet.

Click here to meet Violet.

P.S. I am looking forward to my next set of lessons…stripy socks!

P.P.S  Family members will be receiving something extra special in their stockings this year…I have almost finished my first gift.

More Inspiring Food Allergy, Eczema and Asthma Bloggers

I have put together a list of inspirational food allergy, eczema and asthma bloggers compiled from skin and food allergy blogger, The Allergista and food allergy blogger, Dairy-Egg-Nut.

I have written a little about each, in the hopes of spreading their stories and inspiring many!

I want to thank The Allergista and Dairy-Egg-Nut for posting and sharing their ‘Very Inspiring Blogger’ Award lists. It is a great opportunity to widen our network of allergy related bloggers…get ready to be inspired!

1.  ‘The Other Courtney’…Courtney is an eczema and allergy sufferer…I love her post titled, ‘You Might Have Eczema if…’, totally relatable…it made me smile.

2.  ‘Linda Sepp Life with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: The importance of safe housing’…Linda’s life is an eye-opener…Linda is a Canadian, ‘disabled and housebound from severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Environmental Sensitivities, Fibromyalgia, and Electromagnetic HyperSensitivity.’ Read all about her journey by clicking here. The information she has researched will have you re-evaluating what you injest, breathe in and put next to your skin. I had no idea this existed…Linda’s life is inspiring to say the least!

3.  Lifewithfa Life with Food Allergies: A Mom’s Perspective…Alice is a mother of two young boys with multiple food allergies…a combination of 18+ between them! (peanuts/tree nuts, wheat, egg, milk, fish, shellfish, soy, barley, rye, lentils, buckwheat, peas, chickpeas, chicken, turkey, celery and sesame seeds) Like myself, she is often asked, “So, What Do You Eat?”  I can totally relate to her life as a mom faced with the challenges of every day life living with multiple food allergies.

4. Photosensitivity & Solar Urticaria Blog…since February/March 2011, this blogger has been diagnosed with a rare form of Solar Urticaria…she needs to avoid sunlight. Again, I had no idea this existed! Talk about an inspiring girl!

5.  My Food Intolerance Journey: This WordPress.com site is following my road back to full health…Dean suffers from food and chemical sensitivities. Dean is currently taking low dose immunotherapy…click here to read.more.. and trying to heal a leaky gut…click here to read more. I remember when my eldest son was young, I felt he had a leaky gut…I also started him on probiotics (a dairy free version) and EFA’s (evening primrose oil and flax oil)…he is still on them to this day.

6.  Surviving Seattle With Allergies enjoying food to the fullest:  Adrienne writes to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining one’s personal health…her blog is full of her recipes.

7.  Food Allergy Experience: Dainty is a mother of two. Her son has multiple food allergies to…dairy, soy, wheat , eggs, peanut/tree nuts, mango and shellfish. He also suffers from eczema and asthma. To read about her journey, just click here. Dainty posts her son’s weekly menus, shares her experiences of living with food allergies and posts allergy friendly recipes.

8.  PINKLIKEABEACON Topical period Withdrawl-Taking it one day at a time:  at Day 175- 25 weeks off steriods…this blogger’s skin would be a bit of a shock for anyone not familiar with eczema. Reminds me very much of Michael’s skin. It breaks my heart to see these pictures as I know exactly what she is going through. I had no idea, at the time, that there was such a thing as ‘topical steroid withdrawl’. I am now starting to believe that perhaps Michael went through this phase as we weaned him off his steroid creams. If your child is on any steroid cream for eczema…you should check this out.

9.  Allergictolifemybattle Life Can Change in an Instant:  Severe mold in the workplace changed the life of this mother of two…immune system dysfunction, severe depression and near financial ruin. In 2003, she started her book on how devastating mold can be…‘Allergic to Life’ will be available Summer 2013. Click here for her post on her book update…I love the poem she wrote.

10.  Adventures of an Allergic Foodie Don’t let celiac disease and allergies hold you back:  Allergic to asparagus, capers, cashews, corn, dairy, guar flour , kefir, nutmeg, pineapple, rennet, soy, vanilla and yeast..this blogger also lives with celiac disease and Eosinoplhilic Esophagatis (EoE)…she is a girl who in her words, “struggles to eat”. With an autoimmune system that has gone ‘haywire’, I love her mantra, “I don’t believe in whining. I do believe obstacles are put in our lifepaths for a reason-and I don’t know about you, but I’m not about to let food allergies hold me back!”

11.  adaptingtoallergies adapting our lives and recipes to live safely with severe food allergies:  Melanie is mother to two children…her son JT has severe food allergies and has asthma. Melanie tells her family’s story…she states, ” I have adapted to live safely with food allergies without turning our lives upside down.”

12. The Crunchy Cook Learning to love food again, one allergen/gluten-free recipe at a time. The blogger has a long list of food allergens…gluten(wheat, barley, rye,spelt), dairy, eggs, soy, peaches, pork, shrimp, mushrooms, strawberries, tomatoes, tuna, aspartame, peanuts(life-threatening/airborne level), honeydew, beef, annato, apples, and a sugar, honey and molasses sensitivity. With all these food allergens, I love The Crunchy Cooks attitude…she states, “when I look at all the tasty things that are still options, it makes life-or at least the putting-food-in-my-mouth-part seem more manageable.” Click here for her list of foods she enjoys to eat.

13.  Please Don’t Pass The Nuts (TM) Just because you have a restricted diet, doesn;t mean you have a restricted life. Sloane Miller, aka. Allergic Girl, is my idol! She is the author of the book that anyone with food allergies should read…Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies. I did a reveiw on her book awhile back…click here to read. Her book made me feel better about all that I was trying to do for my boys and inspired me to ‘step out of my box’…something I continue to strive to do.

15.  The Allergy Eats Blog Your Allergy Friendly Restaurant Blog: This site is a “user-friendly guide to allergy-friendly restaurants across the United States. It is a peer-reviewed directory of restaurants – rated by people with food allergies, for people with food allergies.” written by a father of five with three of his children with food allergies. Click here to read more. I love the post he wrote on, “The  Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains in America”…click here for the post.

16.  It’s A Hard Nut Life is written by a fellow with nut allergies and has a condition called Dermatographia…”too much Histamine in your blood and when your skin gets irritated or scratched, it rises to the surface and causes a little bump.” Apparently, this condition is quite common with people with allergies. Click here to read his post on this condition and check out the interesting artwork he has drawn on his skin.

17.  Ingredients all about cosmetics, chemistry and fashion: Louise has always loved fashion…when she was finishing her Ph.d, she experienced a bad allergic reaction to a skin care product.  The bio chemist in her was determined to learn more about cosmetic products…she obtained a post-graduate certificate in cosmetic science from the U.K. Society of Cosmetic Scientists. Louise’s blog, Ingredients, is all about combining her love of fashion, chemistry and cosmetics…in her words, “My goal is to provide balanced, objective information and product reviews, based on real science and my knowledge of organic chemistry, skin anatomy and biochemistry.”

18.  Allergy Warriors and Gluten-Free Gal For people with a food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity:  Allergy Warrior Annie is a mother of two…her eldest has a peanut and egg allergy. Allergy Warrior Annie chose her name “because anyone who has a food allergy knows how much of a battle it is to be safe!” Gluten-Free Gal Lizzie shares her recipes, tips and tricks “about living gf in a world where gluten seems to be everywhere.”

I know I must be missing some…please let me know in the comments, of any inspiring allergy, eczema and asthma bloggers that you feel should be highlighted.

Who inspires you?

The Food Allergy Chronicles Visits Lone Star Texas Grill

Dairy-Egg-Nut has inspired our family to ‘step outside the box’ this March Break. After much deliberation over restaurant ‘Allergy Guides’…one restaurant was chosen…The Lone Star Texas Grill.

Quite surprisingly, Lone Star Texa Grill does not officially have a breakdown of food allergens for their menu listed in their ‘Allergen Guide’. However, what they do have is a very inviting message to those with food allergies who would like to eat at the Lone Star Texas Grill.

The Lone Star Texas Grill ‘s ‘Allergy Guide’ states, “At Lone Star, Guest food safety is number one. If you have any special food allergies, sensitivities or dietary needs, please speak to your server before you order. All our servers are well versed in the ingredients of our menu items.”

“While we cannot guarantee the absence of any allergen, due to the potential for cross-contaminationand potential traces of allergens in sauces, marinades, cooking processes and menu adaptations we will do our best to accomodate your requests.”

Click here to view Lone Star Texas Grill’s Allergy Guide.

Right away, after reading the above ‘Allergy Guide’, I felt inclined to call the restaurant to speak with the manager about Michael’s food allergies…dairy, egg, beef, lamb, sesame, fish, shellfish, peanut/tree nuts, mustard and raspberry…and Matthew’s food allergies…peanut/tree nuts.

The manager was very helpful and understanding of my boys’ combined food allergies…he assured us that the Lone Star Texas Grill would be able to meet our food allergy requirements. Adding, that many of their food allergy customers are repeat customers…very reassuring indeed!

Questions for Michael’s meal:

Is there a separate fryer for the french fries? Apparantly, there is a separate fryer that just fries the corn chips that are served complimentary. Michael’s fries would be fried in that oil. (corn chips were free of his allergens)

Is there mustard in their Original Texas Barbecue Sauce?   Yes…ribs are not allergen free.

Is there mustard in the seasoning of their chicken fingers? No, they would toss real chicken in a flour, salt and pepper mixture and would fry them in the same oil as his french fries.

Perfect…just what Micheal was hoping for…Chicken Fingers with fries…done.

Questions for Matthew’s meal:

Are the buns free of peanut/tree nuts?  Yes.

Perfect…Matthew would order “Bubba’s” Smoked Brisket.

Overall questions:

The manager reassured me that the manager would oversee the cooking of the boys’s meals, the hostess and waitress would be made aware of the boys’ food allergies, all cutting boards and utensils used in the making of the meals would be separate from the other food…I was sold!

Overall evening:

From the moment we stepped in to the Lone Star Texas Grill, our family was made to feel very welcome indeed.

Our hostess greeted us at the entrance…after a quick introduction, she smiled and reassured us the restaurant was ready for us and seated us near the back of the restaurant, by the kitchen.

The manager then greeted us at the table…he was very patient as I re-relayed the conversation I had had with the manager on duty at the time I had called. I had forgotten to ask about the salsa that is served with the corn chips and the plum sauce for the chicken fingers while on the phone with the other manager…the salsa and plum sauce were free of his food allergens.

The manager then re-reassured me that the kitchen was well experienced in cooking for anyone with food allergies. Relaying that our waitress was also aware of our food allergies.

Next, our smiling waitress arrived…she was equally patient as I re-relayed the specifics of our food allergy requirements. Drinks and our meal were ordered.

The first to arrive were the still warm from the fryer, corn chips and salsa.

Michael tried one, smiled and happily dug in to the pile…soon a second order arrived…where were the drinks?

Finely, the drinks arrived to quench the thirst of the ‘corn chip munchers’…soon to be followed by our dinner.

Michael’s Chicken Fingers and Fries with a side order of carrot and celery sticks…which, I might add, he did actually eat!

Michael inhaled his meal…happy to report it was delish…although he could have done with a few more of the french fries. (Note: Michael’s fries just had salt on them, whereas, Matthew noted that his fries had a sort of spice on them)

Over the course of the meal…Michael ‘absorbed’ his fair share of Iced Tea!

I imagine the sodium content of his entire meal was the culprit!

Overall…I would rate this meal a huge success!

At the end of the meal…the manager recommended that Michael try the Chicken Fajitas on his next visit. The tortillas, which they bake in house, were safe…the chicken would not be brushed with a garlic butter and would be grilled on a separate grill…the Saddle Beans and Mexican Rice would be safe as would the Salsa.

If Matthew had had room for dessert…he would have been able to have had the ice cream…

For anyone that does not live with multiple food allergies…the notion of going our for dinner may not seem like such a ‘big deal’. But for our family…it will be a moment we will remember for always because it was a ‘big deal’!

The fear is real…the consequences of eating something that one is allergic to is real…the need to be specific and careful about ingredient lists and how food is prepared, cooked and served is real.

Not everyone ‘gets it’…all I know is I’m sure glad the managers, hostess, waitress and cooks at Lone Star Texas Grill did!

Know, that on our next visit to Lone Star Texas Grill…I would still be calling ahead to go through the same food allergen questions to assure myself that the restaurant is prepared for our every visit…never assume!

I would love to hear about your experiences eating out at restaurants with food allergies.

P.S. At ‘The Allergy Eats! Blog Your Allergy Friendly Restaurant Blog“, they have specifically written a post titled, ‘The Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains in America’. Click here to check out their top 5 restaurant chains in the categories of large, medium and small chains.

P.P.S. I was very saddened by an article in Sunday’s edition of the Toronto Star.

Twelve year old Maia Santarelli-Gallo, died a ‘mysterious death’ this March Break while out shopping at Mapleview Centre in Burlington, Ontario. Her parents believe she died from an unknown food allergy…her body may have gone into anaphylactic shock. Maia had some food intolerances…but was never prescribed an Epipen by a doctor.

A sad reminder of how dangerous food allergies can be if not fully investigated.

My thoughts and prayers are with Maia’s family. Click here for the full story.

My Son With A Peanut/Tree Nut Allergy’s Words Ease My Aching Heart

My youngest son, Matthew is in Grade 9…he has a peanut/tree nut allergy, eczema and asthma.

As a mother with two children with food allergies, eczema and asthma, I have always worried about how their challenges would affect their growth and development both physically and emotionally.

Many old feelings of guilt and thoughts of my boys’ living with food allergies resurfaced after Michael’s allergic reaction to lamb last Tuesday…I was not feeling like ‘mother of the year’! Click here for the link to the post.

Amazing how my ‘back pack of guilt’ can so easily be ‘brought back to life’.

Every now and then, a glimmer of hope shines through…eradicating any doubt I may have had regarding my boys sense of self….my ‘back pack of guilt’  is removed and gets placed back on the shelf.

I wanted to share one of those times with you. On Friday, Matthew brought home some of his work for me to review. I was blown away with one of his poems and writing. With Matthew’s blessing…I give you a poem he wrote titled, Reflection.

Reflection

I asked for height
I was surrounded by tall kids
Thank you God for the opportunity
To rise to the challenge.

I asked God for no allergies
Asthma, and eczema
Peanuts and sports appear everywhere
Thank you for the chance to become
aware of my surroundings.

I asked for better skills in sports
I was given tougher opponents
Thank you for the drive to practice harder.

I asked for all the things I wanted
God gave me the things I needed
Things that would make me a better person.

You have no idea how much this poem means to me…I was literally brought to tears!

Barely recovering from the poem, Matthew handed me another piece of his work…more tears ensued.

The following is a sentence and closing statement taken from a paragraph he wrote:

“I was diagnosed with allergies in grade 3 and was disappointed but I had faith in my friends and family that they would understand and they did. My friends have always been supportive and understanding and I am grateful.”

“Dark times appear in everybodies life and you can hope that faith and trust are there to get you through those times.”

Life is full of challenges. In retrospect, I am ever so grateful for the challenges that have been presented to our family. For all the hardship that my boys have endured living with food allergies, eczema and asthma…they have survived.  I believe their journey has given them the opportunity to acquire the skills to become young men ready to tackle more of life’s challenges.

Another silver lining.

The journey will continue for my boys whether I am around or not…my job continues to prepare them to live independently with a ‘side order’ of food allergies. Not an easy task…but then who said motherhood would be easy!. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Have you experienced a silver lining moment in your life with food allergies, eczema and/or asthma?

I Can’t Believe It…Adding Another Food Allergy To The List For Michael

Tuesday, January 7, 2013 was the day I introduced a new food item for my eldest son, 16-year-old Michael…lamb.

Michael already has a list of food allergens including dairy, egg, beef, sesame, fish, shellfish, peanut/tree nuts, mustard and raspberries...how could there possibly be room for yet another food allergen? Here is our story.

Why, you may be wondering, did I choose this day over any other day? Well frankly, there is never a good day!

What with hockey on the weekends, school tests, quizzes, projects, exams, basic homework looming every week, and life in general…there never seems to be a perfect time to introduce a new food item.

To tell you the truth, it all came down to the fact that Michael has really wanted to try lamb for a while now, there was leftover pork tenderloin for Michael to have as his main course and I had a marinated lamb in the freezer that needed eating. It was as basic and spontaneous as that.

Michael was extremely excited…perhaps one could call it a nervous excitement. When the lamb came in off the barbecue, I could almost see his mouth start to water at the knowledge that he was going to be able to try a bit of the lamb.

I cut a small part of the most tender slice of lamb…setting it aside on a plate of its own.

Michael started his meal with a slice of pork tenderloin, homemade Macaroni and Daiya Cheddar Style Shreds and roasted carrots…all the while, eyeing the tiny piece of lamb expectantly.

Michael had already rubbed his wrist on the lamb for a skin test…no reaction. He then touched the lamb to his lip…no reaction. He bravely took a very small bite of the very small piece of lamb. “Mmmmm…it tastes good!”, he exclaimed with a big smile on his face.

It didn’t start right away, nor did it seem to take very long before he felt the tingling on his tongue. He made his way over to the kitchen sink and started the water running…sticking his head in to let the water run over his tongue. Soon he was vomiting. His allergic reaction did not go any further than the vomiting. His breathing was never compromised nor did he break out in any hives. 

Needless to say, Michael was very disappointed to have to add, yet another food allergen to his already long list of food allergens. I guess lamb will have to be considered part of the ‘others’ that is listed on his ‘Medic Alert dog tag’. His list is so long, not all his food allergens can be listed…or the ‘y’ in ‘allergy’. His ‘Medic Alert dog tag’ reads, ‘has epipen allerg: peanuts-nuts-dairy-sesame- eggs-beef-seafood others/asthma.’

It adds a bit of comic relief to his food allergy situation.

Personally, words cannot describe how I feel…a mix of emotions and feelings…saddened, numb, ill, guilty, angry, frustrated, lost…all come to mind. 

The next day, Michael was a trooper. Despite the fact that he was not feeling 100%… without a single complaint, he headed off to school. (Well, actually I drove him along with his brother and two friends.)

As soon as I got home…I called the school. I informed the secretary of Michael’s allergic reaction the evening before and the fact that he was not fully up to par. I wanted the school to be on the alert if he were to relapse. The secretary passed the information along to the attendance secretary as well as the Vice-Principal.

As the lunch hour approached…I received a phone call from attendance. Michael was not feeling well…could he come home. I immediately drove to pick him up.

Apparently, in 2 out of the 3 classes Michael attended before his call home, 2 of his teachers approached him concerned that he did not look so well. I was very pleased to hear how observant the teachers were as well of the fact that Michael revealed to them the likely cause…his allergic reaction to lamb the night before.

Michael described how he felt by stating that he felt “very weak.” in his arms and legs. Needless to say, he took it easy for the rest of the day while I kept a watchful eye over him.

The chicken I was going to roast that night for dinner turned into Homemade Chicken Soup. Michael’s favourite meal when he is not feeling well. I think it has magical restorative powers!

“Much, much better day…I feel almost 100% good.”, he announced upon his arrival home from school the next day.

That night, at the dinner table, the conversation turned to Michael’s allergic reaction to the lamb. Michael mentioned that one of his teacher’s had suggested he try goat. Well, that started a cascade of ideas. Duck a l’Orange was the first to be mentioned…but it quickly turned into a game…how about frog legs, rabbit and squirrel?

The family was soon in stitches…as we all envisioned me whipping up some squirrel delicacy such as the likes of Kay on Duck Dynasty. Our family is totally addicted to the show!

A little comic relief to lighten the load was welcomed!

There are no new plans to try any other food item in the near future…exams are on the horizon, hockey on the weekends, not to mention his ‘work out’ schedule during the week. 

As well as being upset at discovering a new food allergen…Michael was ’bummed out’ that his allergic reaction disrupted his ‘working out’ for the rest of the week. He is back on track this week.

As challenging as living with multiple food allergies are for Michael…I like to believe there will be a silver lining to it all. I believe Michael has already experienced many…an awareness of healthy eating, character building, and empathy to name a few.  

Have you recently introduced a new food only to discover a new food allergy? Are you nervous to try new foods? How do you decide when you will introduce a new food? How do you deal with the aftermath of discovering a new food allergy? How does it affect you and/or your family? What have been your silver linings?

Highschool and Multiple Food Allergies: Teachers Can Make A Difference

I wanted to share with you my latest experience in regards to my son with multiple food allergies in highschool.

On Sunday, I received a call from Michael’s Grade 11 Math teacher. He needed a reminder of all of Michael’s food allergies (the medical form was at school)  as he planned to bring in a box of muffins and juice boxes for Michael’s math class on Monday. (Michael’s food allergies include dairy, egg, beef, sesame, fish, shellfish, peanut/tree nuts, mustard and raspberry)

Apparently, Michael’s math class did surprisingly well on Friday’s math test by achieving between 90-100%! Michael’s Math teacher was astounded with the results, thus prompting a mini celebration of their achievements.

Michael’s teacher wanted to know if there was anything safe he could bring in for Michael to eat. I explained to him the difficulty in finding a baked good that is free of dairy, egg, sesame and peanut/tree nuts. As I had just made a batch of Dairy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Rice Krispie Squares…I offered that Michael could bring one of those to eat in class.

I explained to the teacher…lately, Michael seems to be very sensitive to being centered out as the ‘kid with lots of food allergies’. For the teacher to bring something in ‘special’ would more than likely centre Michael out…being able to casually bring out a ‘treat’ of his own would, more than likely, be less conspicuous. After talking with Michael…I had made the right decision.

Michael’s teacher understood completely…he disclosed that his child carries an epi pen for their cashew and sesame allergy.

This is the third teacher at Michael’s highschool that has informed me of having a child with a food allergy. It certainly helps spread the word about food allergies and anaphylaxis when teachers in the school system are living their lives with food allergies themselves.

To get the ‘ball rolling’…communication plays a key role in educating our teachers/general public on food allergies and anaphylaxis: relaying our experiences with food related allergic reactions…putting real names and faces to anaphylactic reactions…presenting access to further forms of information to increase the awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis in our schools, workplace and extra curricular activities…these are all ways we can spread the word to bring food allergies/anaphylaxis to the forefront.

Anaphylaxis is not something to hide behind.

I know for a fact, that all the work I have done in regards to providing as much information on anaphylaxis as I can for my boys’ teachers, has “got the teachers talking”…as told to me by the Vice-Principal of my boys’ highschool.That means the world to me!

I  must have thanked Michael’s Math teacher ‘a million times’ for calling…repeated ‘a million times’ how much I appreciated the call…teachers like Michael’s Math teacher are worth their weight in gold!

After speaking, at length, to Michael’s Math teacher, I relayed our conversation to Michael…he decided he would take in a Dairy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Rice Krispie Square, which he may or may not eat during Math class.

At the end of the day, I asked Michael whether or not he did actually eat his snack…”Ya” was the only response I got until he pointed out, “The muffins looked really good though.”

Broke my heart…

How do address food related issues in your child/children’s classrooms with their food allergies?

P.S. Michael was rather disappointed that I did not ask his Math teacher the mark on his math test…he had to wait until Monday to find out he achieved 100%! The principal of the school even showed up to congratulate the class and hand out the tests.

Multiple Food Allergies and Teenagers: Trying Not To Step Over The Fine Line

My eldest son, Michael, turned 16 this summer. 

Living the life of a teenager…he looks forward to playing house league hockey each week, shares a paper route with his younger brother, Matthew, spends his extra time playing road hockey or basketball with his brother and friends, or disappears to the ‘man cave’ to play videos.

Along with the ‘fun teenage stuff’… first and foremost, comes school.

Michael worked hard at school last year to achieve an Honours average in Grade 10…my husband and I are so very proud…it has been quite the journey.

Michael lives everyday with multiple food allergies, asthma and eczema. A fact he would love to forget…love to see disappear…love for me to stop talking about.

This is worrisome for me. According to an article written by Gwen Smith, editor of Allergic Living Magazine, Dr. Antony Ham Pong states, ” For the life-threatening allergens the highest risk of dying is as a teenager.”  The article goes on to state that teenagers “act impulsively and sometimes take risks.” Dr. Ham Pong states, “There is a feeling of invulnerability that teenagers tend to have…if you ask them what the risks are, they know. But are they concerned? Not so much. It does not register with them.” Click here to view the entire article.

I understand that, as a teenager, Michael just wants to fit in. However, the reality is he is living his life with a life threatening condition…one that should not be taken lightly.

I am currently walking a fine line…establishing a safe environment within his school setting without centering Michael out within his peers.

This year, I find myself treading in the ‘unchartered waters’ of the teenage years.

MIchael’s Vice-Principal came up with the idea that I prepare an allergy friendly treat for Michael to enjoy after The Honours Night ceremony. The Vice-Principal presented the idea to the teacher who was organizing the event and advised me to contact them.  The teacher was more than pleased to prepare an allergy friendly treat, however, after discussing cross-contamination issues, it was agreed that I would prepare the treat.

Unfortunately, Michael did not feel the same way…he would prefer that I forget the whole idea…he did not want anything made.

Honours Night was all about celebrating those students who have made the effort to achieve a high standing average at school. It was a night to celebrate Michael’s academic achievements.

Keeping that in mind…I wanted Michael to feel comfortable. I wanted him to enjoy the night. I wanted him to feel proud of his achievement…to know how proud my husband and I are that he reached his goal. I wanted to honour Michael’s feelings…I did not feel I should compromise his night.  I wanted him to experience ‘feeling like everyone else’…I chose not to bake anything allergy friendly.

The teenage years is a hard time to embrace one’s uniqueness.

Stepping back, I know this was the right decision. How do I prepare my children to be independent, cognizant, productive members of society? How to I prepare my children for the insensitivities of those around them?

I believe, building my boys’ sense of pride, self-worth and self-esteem is fundamental in a world where compassion may be lacking. At the same time, I also believe educating the general public with the basics of anaphylaxis and the proper administration of an epi pen to be vital first aid knowledge. Click here for Anaphylaxis Canada’s post on ‘Understanding Anaphylaxis’.

Anaphylaxis Canada maintains and operates, Why Risk It? Where Real Life and Allergies Collide. A site dedicated for teenagers with food allergies at risk for anaphylaxis. Click here for a link to the site.

With stories of bullying, carrying an auto-injector (epi pen), cross-contamination, dating, dining out, partying, public places, reading labels, school, and travel…teenagers are presented with other teenagers experiences leaving them feeling less alone. Click here for a link.

Why Risk It? even has a blog…‘written and maintained by members of Anaphylaxis Canada’s Youth Advisory Panel, a group of allergic youth from across Canada.’ Click here to view.

I will continue to tread lightly during these teenage years , being careful of that fine line…spreading the word on anaphylaxis and listening to my boys’ needs without losing sight of the potential danger of apathy on their part.

P.S. Needless to say, it was a great night! Inspirational Keynote Address by a former student who is now an English/Dance teacher at the school (Michael’s current English teacher), beautiful soloist by one of the students and an amazing motivational video that we all felt was outstanding!

P.P.S. Slices of chocolate slab cake and coffee was offered at the reception…I didn’t try a piece, but I am sure my Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Chocolate Cake would have given that cake a run for its money! lol  :)

How are you handling the teenage years with your teenaged child/children with food allergies?

Summer Family Gathering and Multiple Food Allergies

As you may have figured…my boys, two nephews and I have been enjoying some summer fun at ‘Nana’s'!

The boys love to ‘ham it up’ for the camera!

This past week, the family count has increasingly mulitplied with my sister-in-law arriving last Monday, and my husband, brother and Scottish relatives all arriving on Friday! Unfortunately, my American cousin’s family, had to cancel at the last minute due to expired passports! So sad!

My mother has ‘flown the coup’, so to speak, to stay at friends for the evenings. We are quite the houseful at 12!

Feeding this crew has it’s challenges…and then one adds in mulitple food allergies…how do I manage it all?

BY PLANNNING AHEAD!

1) Set out a meal plan.
2) Prep as much as possible ahead of time. (freezed marinated Lemon Chicken Breasts, cooked ribs and tossed with barbecue sauce, stocked up on essentials to limit number of visits to the grocery store and I will do all my baking early in the morning to free up time to be with the family during the day)
3) Keep the main meal food options as allergen free as possible (Barbecued Ribs, Barbequed Lemon Chicken Breasts, Rotisserie Chicken with Albert’s Original French Fries, Rice, Quinoa, Beans, Peas, Corn on the Cob, Summer Corn Salad, Bruschetta Pasta, Potato Packets, Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Banana Bundt Cake, Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Brownies, Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Peach Crisp, Dairy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Rice Krispie Squares, Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Chocolate Chip Cookies,  Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Blueberry Pancakes, Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Lemon Blueberry Muffins)
4) Plan for those meals which include any food allergens (Hamburgers and Steak) by eliminating all possible cross-contamination issues. (washing hands, preparing MIchael’s food first or reheating a previous allergen free meal, allow Michael to serve himself first to those parts of the meal that are allergen free).

Over the years, I have invested in leaving baking pans, a bread machine, baking utensils, silicone sheets etc. to make baking and cooking as ‘safe’ as possible at my mom’s house. I store all my ‘stuff’ in a box in the basement.

Yes, cooking and baking for this number of people while keeping everything allergen free can be stressful!

Yes, a few rules need to be set in order to keep Michael and Matthew safe…for example, wash hands after eating a dish that contains any one of the boys food allergies (dairy, beef, eggs, sesame, fish, shellfish, peanut/tree nuts, mustard and raspberries), maintain a safe shelf in the refrigerator that only contains Michael’s safe foods, and definitely no double dipping.

Yes, there have been some cross-contamination issues…like when my relatives double dipped in Michael’s vegan margarine…no problem…I just went out and bought another and wrote ‘Michael’s Do Not Use’ on the outside. Or when Michael felt a tingling on his tongue after eating one of his Dairy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Rice Krispie Squares…I think one of the boys did not wash their hands well enough after eating one of their grilled cheese sandwiches…no problem…I now make their grilled cheese with the vegan margarine (dairy free) and the boys are to ask for either myself or Michael for one of Michael’s ‘treats’.

Yes, in the end, all the fuss, the preparations, and the extra effort to make everything allergen free is worth it!

Allergen free baking and allergen free cooking for a family gathering can be achieved and be loved by all…just ask anyone of my relatives!

How do you handle family gatherings with food allergies?

Taking A Break From Food Allergies: Our Weekend Get Away Biking In Niagara-On-The-Lake

Our weekend get away, biking in Niagara-On-The-Lake, was everything we hoped it would be…filled with adventure, great food and wine and of course…romance!

We stayed at the lovely Wine Country Bed and Breakfast…our third year here…over Victoria Weekend.

Our room had the top balcony…the perfect spot to relax with a glass of wine, local Canadian cheeses…

and watch the horse-drawn carriages go by! I think the stables are just down the road.

The Wine Country Bed and Breakfast is perfectly located within walking distance to downtown Niagara-On-The-Lake and many great restaurants, shops, the Shaw Festival Theatres, and Pellar Estates Winery.

Our first day had us waking up to the smell of Blueberry Muffins and cooling Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp…yummy!

Our hearty breakfast of freshly baked muffins, a fruit smoothie, a main of Scrambled Eggs with Brie, Vodka Spiked Tomato Salsa and sautéed mushrooms followed by Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp topped with a scoop of Vanilla Ice cream and Lemon Balm…fueled us for our main bike ride…a 100 km roundtrip bike ride to Fort Erie!

Stops along the way included…Brock’s Monument. It is in the distance.

On a previous biking trip, a very informative guide dressed as a soldier from the War of 1812 gave us a condensed history lesson on the War of 1812…we followed it with a walk up Brock’s Monument commemorating Major-General Issac Brock, Commander-In-Chief of British forces in Upper Canada. The view from the top, of Lake Ontario, is breathtaking…worth climbing the 235 steps!

Click here to check out this YouTube video of a Time Lapse of climbing Brock’s Monument and its spectacular view!

This year marks the 200 year anniversary of the War of 1812…many events are planned starting in June 2012. Click here to learn more.

Another must stop is the beautiful Floral Clock.

It actually works too!

Of course the main attraction is always the stunning Niagara Falls!

The Falls themselves never cease to impress me!

Andy and I had never ventured any farther than Niagara Falls on previous bike rides so we were not sure what we would be in store for on the ride to Fort Erie.

Thinking that riding all the way to Fort Erie would most likely be pushing it…we decided to stop when we hit Chippawa…which, according to Andy was only another 10 minute ride…45 minutes later we arrived in Fort Erie! Be aware…Chippawa signs are not well posted or non-existent…but it is a beautiful ride!

Unfortunately, Fort Erie is not really much of a town…the local Avondale provided us with lunch…a chocolate milk and a chocolate bar. Refueled we managed to ‘motor it’ back to Niagara-On-The-Lake in about 2 1/2 hours!

Our reward…wine and cheese with a beautiful view of the vineyards at Inniskillen Niagara.

Our plan for Day 2 in Niagara-On-The-Lake was biking to some of our favourite wineries…Konzelmann Estate Winery,Strewn Winery and Hillebrand. The Wine Country Bed and Breakfast provides all it’s guest with complimentary tasting cards.

Our lunch stop was at Pondview Estate Winery…our new favourite we discovered last year on the Wine and Herb Tour.

A yummy cheese platter for two! From top cheese to bottom…Brie, Niagara’s Gold (my favourite), Cheddar, Asiago and a Blue…yummy!

Finishing at Pellar Estates Winery.

We were disappointed that we missed out on the 2012 Food Truck Eats: 16 Food Trucks and 16 Wines at Pellar Estates. The event sold out the previous Thursday…3000 tickets were sold for both Sunday and Monday events.

From what we could see…it looked like quite the event…perhaps next year!

Andy and I were once again ‘blown away’ with our stay in Niagara-On-The-Lake!

A huge ‘thank you’  to John for all the fabulous ‘over the top’ breakfasts and hospitality! Thank you for the ‘welcome back’ chocolates! 

We truly feel ‘at home’ when we stay. I so enjoy meeting the other couples over breakfast…a couple from Ohio were here hiking and sampling wines, two couples here for weddings, another for the wine and a matinee show at the Shaw Festival and another managed to get tickets to the 2012 Food Truck Eats Event!

Check out our dessert for our final breakfast enjoyed sitting on the front porch…Cheesecake with Port Marinated Cheeries with Whipped Cream!  

I know…wow! John grows all his own herbs and flowers to decorate his incredible edible creations!

Andy and I enjoyed another amazing weekend away in beautiful Niagara-On-The-Lake!

Knowing our children are in ‘good hands’ so as Andy and I can ‘recharge ourselves’ away from the worries of food allergies that fill our every day lives…priceless!

Cheers!

P.S. John is very understanding regarding food allergies/ sensitivities/intolerances. I alerted him ahead of time via an email of my walnut, mango allergies and my preference to no bacon and whipped cream. He was very accommodating.

Tip: In researching for a Bed and Breakfast…I looked for a place that was as hypo-allergenic as possible for my allergies…no feather pillows or duvets, no pets, no scented candles burning for ambiance, accomodating to food allergies/sensitivities/intolerances…as well as being close to town and an updated historic house…Wine Country Bed and Breakfast certainly ‘fit the bill’ and then some!