Jane O'Leary
social marketing, web design, blogging,
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(Source: listbutnotleast)
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Visible Children: We got trouble. »
Please note that posting date has been edited to keep this at the top of the page. Post written March 7, 2012. Many more updates have followed at visiblechildren.tumblr.com which cites all sources, and more recent information can be found here.
I do not doubt for a second that those involved…
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The Most Astounding Fact. {Video: Neil DeGrasse Tyson} »
The desire to be relevant and to feel connected.
Watch the video, and see how we are all connected.
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WomenArts Theatre Funding News »
Lots of good information for women in theatre.
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David Terrazas on the Behance Network »
These photos are brilliant. Textured and dark and cinematic.
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Food Allergies »
“Some public school parents in Edgewater, Florida, want a first-grade girl with life-threatening peanut allergies removed from the classroom and home-schooled, rather than deal with special rules to protect her health, a school official said.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42212235/ns/health-allergies_and_asthma/
I read about this controversy with 1st graders in Edgewater, Florida sending home a girl with peanut allergies and couldn’t help but feel protective of the mother of the girl with a peanut allergy. And it got me thinking about how uninformed people are about food allergies.
As a parent of a 3 year old with food allergies, I notice the above stories all the time. When I was growing up I knew someone with food allergies. But I didn’t know what that meant. He was the brother of my best friend. I didn’t know what kind of reactions he would have if he actually ate the things he was allergic to. I never questioned it. I thought that all allergies were similar to my allergy to cats. Troublesome, a nuisance but certainly nothing to worry over. But, I also knew that there was such a thing as an epipen that was used for people that were allergic too bees. I also knew that being allergic to bee stings was very serious and could be life threatening. But I thought this was the only time one needed an epipen.
The reason I’ve discussed my own ignorance is that although there is a lot more chatter and attention on food allergies, unless you or someone you love has them you may be uninformed about the risks.
The following articles talk about the increase in food allergies and the possibility that many are misdiagnosed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/health/11brody.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/health/research/12allergies.html?_r=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/health/03well.html
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/the-squishy-science-of-food-allergies/
And I agree that allergists have different approaches and different procedures for diagnosing people (especially babies and toddlers) with food allergies. I have been through my own personal struggle with my daughters allergies. And I’ve been alternately happy and extremely frustrated with the health care professionals who have treated her.
I noticed my daughter would break out after I breastfed her. My first pediatrician thought it might be an allergic reaction to milk and recommended that I eliminate milk from my diet, which I dutifully did. I don’t remember how old she was when I did this but she was probably 3-5 months old. I noticed after eliminating milk from my diet her eczema nearly disappeared and she didn’t have as many allergic episodes. As she got older, I also noticed that every time I gave her food with wheat in it she would break out and then throw up. Sometimes her eyes would swell. I told my pediatrician who recommended an allergist. I went to the allergist with my daughter who I think was around 8 months at the time and the Dr. had blood tests performed. This blood test showed positive signs for allergies to wheat, soy, sesame, peanuts, tree nuts, egg whites, rice, barley and a few others - but not milk. I was elated to be able to eat cheese again but stunned that she could be allergic to all of these foods.
I was told to stop eating all of the above foods, as well as my daughter. ( I was still breast feeding). I dutifully stopped and a lot of her reactions stopped. It was hard for both of us to avoid these foods. She must have been about 8 months and just starting solid foods, and it really cut down on what we were able to offer her. But this first allergist neglected to to prescribe an epipen and gave little to no guidance about how to deal with these allergies. She simply told me not to eat any of the foods that the blood test tested positive for. I had a couple of scary allergic reactions with her even though we were avoiding all these foods. (Once her babysitter gave her an animal cracker and another time it was something that must have had traces of some other allergen).
At my pediatrician’s office I was asked if I had an epipen.
I told them I didn’t and they were surprised that the allergist had not prescribed one to me. So was I, that was when I made an appointment with another allergist. But the pediatrician prescribed and showed me how to use the epipen that day. Little did I know I’d be in a situation one day soon where I should use it.
One day I gave her a bite of a wheat free bread that I was eating and she eventually went into anaphylactic shock. (To my knowledge there were no ingredients that she would be allergic to.) She started coughing and her blood pressure dropped and I was beside myself with fear. It all happened so quickly. I was in the car and 5 minutes from an emergency room. I ran in with my baby in my arms saying that she was in anaphylactic shock and that she had food allergies. I couldn’t get past the reception desk, she made me fill out forms while I waited with her to see a doctor. I was sure she should get treatment sooner but the doors were locked and the woman wasn’t listening to me. I kept telling her that I had an epi-pen and asking should I give it to her. Finally we were allowed in and the doctors seemed as surprised as me that she had been made to wait for treatment. They told me I should have used the epipen right away.
I have no idea how long it took to get past the receptionist it could have been 3 minutes but it felt like an eternity. She had hives all over her body, she threw up in the parking lot and she was losing consciousness but all of this happened inside of 5 minutes. I was not good in a crisis. I had not reacted the right way. Thankfully the doctors were able to treat her right away and take care of her. Later they informed me that I should have arrived in an ambulance if I wanted emergency treatment!
So many people misunderstand the terrifying reality of food allergies. It sometimes feels as if no one understands how terrifying it can be to realize that eating even a small bite of the wrong food, can cause such a reaction. If your child doesn’t have allergies be thankful. And if you are asked not to bring peanut snacks to school, its no joke. You could be saving someone’s life.
Although I realize there are a lot of misdiagnosed cases of food allergies and that some mom’s diagnose allergies that are really an intolerance to some food. Don’t let this be your excuse for not using some simple precautions to keep those with serious food allergies safe. These parents that are picketing in Florida against having a child with peanut allergies in school because of the inconvenience to their child are I hope simply uninformed and not just incompassionate.
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The Condensed Portfolio of Bobby McKenna »
I really like his typography and color choices.
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paintings »
the future??!!??!
