How I Became a Food Allergy Mom
It all began when our family was attending a party during the summer. My daughter was just prior to a year old. She was transitioning from baby food to regular food. During the gathering, we treated her by giving her a cookie after her meal. I also had a cookie. Why not treat myself as well right? After the party, we went home and I sat on our couch then proceeded to nurse her.
As I am nursing her, I notice that her eyelids are looking a little funny. I also notice that she is getting a rash. I took off all her clothes to see where the rash was. It was all over her body. We didn’t know what was happening. My husband and I decided to take her to the ER. Fortunately, it is only about a mile or so away from our home.
By the time we buckled her in her car seat and arrived at the ER, her face looked like Rocky after a fight. Her eyes were swelled shut and face swollen. The doctors asked right away. Did she have anything different to eat? I said she had a cookie. What kind? My husband said. “It was a peanut butter cookie!” We found out later that she had the allergic reaction while I was nursing her because I also had eaten a peanut butter cookie. Thankfully, she responded well to treatment and they sent us to an allergist for follow up.
When I told the story to the allergist, he said he had never heard of such a thing and that I must be mistaken. That surprised me since I was present at the ER when all this happened. Just because he had never heard of it, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. He tested her and sure enough, she had a peanut allergy and other allergies. This was the start of our adventure of being parents of a child with food allergies.
Since then we found out she is allergic to cashews and pistachios as well. We try to stay away from all nuts in our home. She carries her two epi pens with her where ever she goes. Fortunately, we have never had to use them.
For us parents, after having peanut butter for thirty + years it is different to go without. We have found a great product to replace peanut butter in our home. We tried many products and decided Wowbutter is the closest. Our daughter won’t touch it because it looks so much like peanut butter. It is freeing for us to know that we can enjoy it and not worry about cross-contamination.
Joyfaithstrength.com includes affiliate links. By clicking on them or purchasing recommended items we may receive a small compensation at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we love. For more information see our disclosure and TOS policy.
We order it by the case about every five to six months for our family. It is also available in Crunchy.
My daughter is 22 years old now and she amazes me how she seems to handle her allergy so well. She has taught me so much about God’s grace and protection. We give God all the glory.
Blessings!
Cheryl Bippus
About The Author
Cheryl Bippus
Cheryl has a passion for sharing her life experiences and practical biblical truths that show how the bible's precepts are a guide post for raising your kids, strengthening your marriage or improving relationships. She wants everyone to avoid the pitfalls in raising children, have a fulfilling marriage, close personal relationships, and enjoy a life that isn’t cluttered, overly busy or built on the latest opinion poll.