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I am the parent of a 4 1/2 year old with MULTIPLE life-threatening food allergies. I have lived the nightmare that no parent should ever experience—anaphylaxis—three times. When he was 21 months old a nice elderly woman in the daycare center at my gym was snacking on peanut butter crackers and offered him a bite. Here she thought she was being considerate and thoughtful by sharing her food. But, in reality she almost killed him. Over a matter of four hours, he had vomited, developed hives all over his body, and was gasping for air to get just a breath.  I live in Baltimore, butRead More →

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Most of us approach daily life thinking we are safe, events are predictable, and that others are trustworthy. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and tragedy strikes unexpectedly. Our beliefs are shattered, we lose hope, and we see life as filled with danger, uncertainty, and suffering. But, it is in these moments, in the face of adversity, that we recognize not to take things for granted. Fifteen years ago, my life flashed in front of my eyes. My initial plan to lose a few pounds spiraled out of control resulting in the development of an eating disorder. After starving myself and exercising compulsively, IRead More →

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He was twenty-one months old when the most terrifying and traumatic incident happened. A sweet, innocent, and trusting baby boy, who had already overcome significant health obstacles, was offered a peanut butter cracker. The thoughtful old woman was just sharing her snack, and how would he know better than to take a bite? As his parent, I clearly didn’t do enough to protect him and keep him safe. At that young age, the responsibility to make every caregiver aware of his severe food allergies fell completely on me. My failure to do so wasn’t trivial—it almost cost him his life. We knew he had testedRead More →

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“Mommy. Mommy,” a sweet, innocent sounding voice called from his room. Austin’s early morning shout let me know he was awake, and ready to start the day.” I braced myself, and took a deep breath knowing it was the last respite until bedtime—a long twelve hours later. The anticipation of a new day gave me a feeling of unease. The stress involved in parenting a child with severe food allergies is intense. “Alright, let’s go down to eat breakfast, guys,” I said after getting dressed and teeth were brushed. My sons sat in their designated seats, and waited for me to pour cereal in their bowls I hadRead More →

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I am trembling, shaking, and my heart is racing. It seems anything triggers hysteria, as I have been crying for two straight days now. “Is he breathing, Mom? Check to see if he’s breathing. Please,” I kept repeating frantically as I was driving home from the store. He had just vomited three times in his car seat and complained of a stomachache. After going through all the reasons what could possibly be wrong, we finally identified the cause. For all who know me, I am a candy addict. I have at least two bags of various gummies with me at all times. I am very carefulRead More →

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An Open Letter to Mylan CEO, Heather Bresch On May 21, 2015, I had the scare of a lifetime. I watched as my almost 2-year-old son gasped for air as his airways narrowed from ingesting a tiny morsel of peanut butter. Thank god I carried an EpiPen on me at all times. But, the truth is I never anticipated having to use it. And, when the original prescription was called into our pharmacy last year and the pharmacist advised us that it would cost $500 a pack, my husband and I almost fainted. He had never had an anaphylactic reaction before, so why would heRead More →