Living With a Peanut Allergy |
Recently, at Canadian Parents Online there was a poll about whether Peanut Free Zones had gone too far. Of course, I had to reply. In so doing, I also wrote and asked if I could please obtain the results of the poll when it was completed. I was quite surprised, when I cast my vote, to find that most people thought that "peanut free" zones were unfair for kids who like peanut products.
POLL: July 12, 2000
Do you think "Peanut Free Zones" are getting out of control?
- 34% voted for Yes, I don't think it is fair for kids who like peanut products
- 52% voted for No, I think it is better safe than sorry So far
- 14% voted for No, my child has a peanut allergy
- 0% voted for No comment
Total Votes: 111
I thought that even if you didn't have a child that was allergic to peanut products you may choose the "better safe than sorry" reply, but that was not the case. I understand that this is a very contentious issue and for some reason I simply can't understand why. I wouldn't be able to understand why even if I didn't have a child with a severe peanut allergy. I think, given that the life of a child is at stake, I would always err on the side of "better safe than sorry".
My son Jesse is 4-1/2 years old. He has had three reactions to peanut products, each more severe with less exposure to the actual peanut product. His first reaction was at 18 months old when I gave him a piece of chocolate bar with a peanut in it. At that time, I did not know that peanuts were not really nuts and felt comfortable giving it to him as he had already tried almonds and walnuts with no reaction. His lips immediately became swollen and turned blue and his face broke out in hives. By the time we got him to the hospital his reaction was almost gone. But, we were prescribed an Epi-pen jr. for him.
His second reaction was after eating a piece of toast with peanut butter on it. It was his first anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is when an allergy is life-threatening and can occur within minutes of exposure to the allergen. This reaction was what would be considered mild. His lips were again blue and swollen. His eyes were swollen shut. His face was swollen and red. He was coughing and having difficulty breathing. I called the medical centre I live right beside and they told me to bring him over right away. They administered the Epi-pen, a dose of the antihistamine Benadryl and watched him closely for an hour.
His third reaction, at just over three years old, was total anaphylactic shock. He had merely touched a rice krispie square that had peanut butter in it to his lips. There was no moisture on it from his mouth and there was not a bite mark on it. It had merely touched his lips. His eyes and nose were watering, he had hives over his face and his whole body turned red. His eyes, ears, lips, face and tongue were swollen. He could not breathe and was coughing and choking. He vomited. We administered the Epi-pen. We had not been told, at that time, that the Epi-pen is used and then you dial 911. Twenty minutes after getting the Epi-pen shot, he started to "go" again. We rushed him to the hospital where he got another shot of the Epi-pen and spent the night in intensive care.
Because of his three reactions and the increasing severity of them, Jesse, upon entering Junior Kindergarten last year was placed in a "peanut free" classroom. He is the first child in his school to suffer from the allergy. He carries an Epi-pen in a fanny pack all day at school. The teacher has a second Epi-pen to administer if the ambulance does not arrive within twenty minutes.
If any of you have ever had a child experience an asthma attack where they had to be taken to emergency, you have an inkling of what I went through that night (Jesse has had two asthma attacks). There was my child being pinned down by six medical personnel, screaming, while he had an IV put in. When he quieted, I prayed that he would live. Another reaction can occur for up to eight hours after the initial reaction.
Initially this "Community Column" was suppose to be "The Day in the Life of a Family with a Peanut Allergy". If I were to write our day down for you, it may not seem any different than your day with your child. However, we live in an extremely controlled environment. We know that the donut Jesse eats in the donut shop we go to is safe. We know that the family restaurant is safe. Bringing a treat home for the kids after work one night my husband purchased popsicles. One would think that they would be okay. No, a lot of them have the "may contain" label on them. A trip to the grocery store is no longer simple. I have to read the labels on each and every product we buy, even if it is something we have purchased in the past, to make sure that it does not have the "may contain trace peanuts" warning on it. It means a lot of foods that we simply cannot buy. This also includes, surprisingly, shampoos and body lotions. We usually cannot buy "store brand" or less expensive cookies and cereals. Name brand tends to be the best as far as his safety and in the clarity of their labeling. Only recently did I find out that manufacturers are not even legally required to put the "may contain" warning on their products. It is something they currently have the choice of doing. That has raised a whole other issue for me.
Because of the severity of his allergy, we do not allow peanut products in our home or any "may contain" products in our home. His three year old sister has never been exposed to a peanut product and for this reason, she will have to be tested for the allergy before entering the school system in 2001. Playdates, birthday parties, barbeques, all pose some type of questioning with regard to the allergy. This is not to say that we are not able to attend these functions but our consumption of food is questioned at each. Even a friend who has had peanut butter for lunch has to wash his hands before coming over!
CPO also asked me to include an "outing". I thought that I should wait to include something exciting like going to Canada's Wonderland or the C.N.E. But, for us, even the simplest of outings is not simple. The other evening, our family decided to bike over to the local playground. I had left my purse at home with Jesse's Epi-pen in it. Because peanut residue can last on a surface that has been cleaned for up to six months, there is always a chance that you may come in contact with it, in say, a playground. When we got to the park and I realized I did not have his Epi-pen, my husband and I quickly discussed a plan should Jesse require it. We were a three minute bike ride away from home for my husband and I could be going across the street to call for an ambulance while he was getting the Epi-pen. There were some children in the park eating potato chips and they asked my children if they wanted any. This would have required us looking at the label of the chips to see if they had a "may contain trace peanuts warning or actual peanut warning on them. We declined the chips.
With regard to the issue of peanut products in the school, I would like to say that I send Jesse to school with a well balanced lunch and two snacks, none of which, of course, include any peanut products. It can be done and it can be done on a limited budget. It may require thought, creativity (and very little of that) and some extra time, but it can be done!
But, aside from the fact that my child has this life threatening allergy and certain precautions are taken on a daily basis to ensure his safety, if you look at him you will see a wonderful, happy, sensitive, outgoing 4-1/2 year old. This is what I see when I look at Jesse. I do not see a child with the peanut allergy label stamped on him. Should the discussion be raised again, please think of your own wonderful child and how you would feel if someone put their children's food preferences above your child's life.
There are two questions the principal of my son's school was going to ask parents if they complained about his classroom having to be "peanut free". They were:
- How would you feel about having your child see another Child die in front of them?
- What are you telling your child when you say that their choice in foods is more important than another child's life? I'd like to thank-you for taking the time to read this and would welcome any comments you may have.
