March

Dear all of us,

I'm not sure how March got here so fast and now it's half over. The 31st will be here before we know it.
On March 31,2009 my life almost took a tragic turn. My youngest ate walnuts that day and she could have died. I won't go into all of the details because on some days it's too much to talk about.
Almost 6 years later I do my best to keep March 31 as a positive day. It's the day she didn't leave us.
That's something to celebrate!

Love Remembers

Today is a day set aside for remembering those that have been lost to anaphylaxis. It's so important but so very, very sad.
I find it amazing that today is the day to remember those lost to anaphylaxis because today is the day that my house was hit by anaphylaxis.
My daughter at the time was 3 1/2. She ate walnuts. She turned red. She was lethargic. She was zoned out. She was coughing and wheezing. It was an awful sound. That day is burned in my brain for ever. I will always remember the sights of that day, the sounds too. It's like it was happening in slow motion. I remember everything that was said, everything that we did.
By the grace of G-d she made it through.
It's hard to believe that this awful day was 5 years ago.
How horrible my life would be if she didn't make it......
Hug your kids tight and think of those lost today.

It's March again

March.
Not my favorite month at all. March 31 is the anniversary of my daughter's anaphylactic reaction. I would rather skip over March.
This year there is an event, ironically being held on March 31. It is an event to help honor the lives of those that have been lost to anaphylaxis. Well, that's a wake up call. Once again I am reminded of how very lucky I am.
Please take a moment to read over the information and join us in remembering.
https://www.facebook.com/events/288379827975661/

Big news! FAACT is here!

So, I was sitting around being lazy yesterday. It was great! I spent way too much time on social media, especially Facebook. Suddenly, something caught my eye! A new food allergy advocacy group had been announced. FAACT, The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team. What? Wait? What's going on? I was stunned to see this. I read more about it and I found that many names sounded really familiar. I mean this team is made up of many food allergy celebrities. Authors, advocates, chefs, doctors, the list is amazing. Their website is full of great information for newbies and veterans. I see great things for the future of food allergy advocacy! There is even going to be a conference in the south later this year, so excited for that! I am going to do everything that I can to be there!
I have such hope for 2014!

Check it out-
http://www.foodallergyawareness.org/

Happy Anniversary?

Well, today is the day that fills me with awful memories but such hope for the future. Four years ago today my youngest ate walnuts. Then our lives changed forever. She ate them, she ate them at home. Thank goodness. At least she wasn't at school, the mall, in the car, it could have been worse. She was at home when she ate them, surrounded by family that loves her. She ate them. She turned red. She became lethargic and zoned out. She began to cough and wheeze like I had never heard before. I had no idea what was going on. I gave her benadryl and called the Dr. We went in and they gave her breathing treatments and oral steroids. We went home with a prescription for more steroids. We then saw the allergist. We had now entered the world of epi pens and life threatening food allergies. We learned a big word that day. Anaphylaxis. Which she can now literally spell forwards and backwards (that impresses me).
Four years has gone by in a scary blink of an eye. But, it's been for years. Four years of vigilance in keeping her safe. She has learned a lot in four years. She is so good at protecting herself. I am so proud.
Tomorrow she has a check up with the allergist and then off for the annual blood draw. I hate this for her. She does get to pick the restaurant where we will eat out tomorrow night as a treat. Then off for frozen yogurt. Hope that helps.
Dreading tomorrow.......but I have hope in my heart that her numbers will drop. Fingers crossed and praying hard for good news.