Graduation Day!

Tomorrow morning at 9:30 am (central time) -- y'all need to be praying for us and thinking about Calista and waiting to celebrate. Tomorrow morning, Cal will have a 24 peanut challenge in the doctor's office. She has been eating 12 peanuts twice a day (without problem) since August 24th.

Only 199 days ago, we met Dr. Wasserman. 175 days ago, we began desensitization. Tomorrow, she graduates.

The joy cannot be conveyed in words, so I'm including her first Baskin Robbins trip picture to give you an idea of how she feels.

She will be on "maintenance" and will eat 8 peanuts a day. I understand that she will be encouraged to add other peanut products to her diet (she has already requested a Snickers bar).

Her blood test showed a small cashew allergy, so we will have a cashew challenge in a month from now. That will open up the tree nut world...

I am so very thankful for all who we have supported, encouraged and cheered us on during this journey. I'm thrilled to have the chance to share the information. I hope all children have access to this treatment someday.

We interrupt regularly scheduled desensitization for a little life...

Well, we weren't able to make our "graduation" appointment on Friday.  Life happened to us.  Crazy enough, desensitization is the easiest, most "normal" part of our lives right now.  The delay has absolutely nothing to do with reactions or treatment -- no issues whatsoever.  She is happily eating her 12 peanuts each morning and 12 more each evening.  We are LOVING the freedoms this has given her.  We are hoping to get back to our "normal" appointment next week.


Continue to share our little blog and the happy news of desensitization!!

Frozen Yogurt

Needless to say...we are really enjoying the changes Calista has been able to make.  Some changes are yummier than others!

A little baseball, a little rain and mint chocolate chip.

My husband, my father-in-law and my girls enjoyed a major league baseball game yesterday.  Yes, there was a rain delay.  No, the Rangers did not come out on top.

But...Calista had mint chocolate chip ice cream!!  And that (as all you faithful readers know) is AMAZING! Even more amazing for me was the ability to let her go, to relax and know she would be safe.

Without Dr. Wasserman and Dallas Allergy Immunology, none of this would have happened.  Without a mom sharing her family's story and giving me the name of doctor, none of this would have happened.  Call this office.  Call another doctor.  Call someone.  Desensitization works.  It isn't easy.  Others have had many more setbacks than we experienced.  It is worth it.  It is worth the effort to make your child safer.  It is worth the time, the travel, the money to see your little girl enjoy an ice cream at a baseball game in a cute little baseball cap.



Again, I'm not a doctor.  I am a mom.  I am the self-appointed peanut police.  I knew nothing about peanut allergy until Calista's diagnosis.  After that point, I learned everything I could and shared the information with every person that would listen (and some who wouldn't).  My daughter is safer today than she was in March before she began desensitization.  Her life is forever changed.

Increase Day!

162 days after her Day One, we are waiting in the office for an increase to 12 peanuts twice a day. From the tiniest fraction of a peanut, to 24 each day in less than six months. Wow!

"Wow" seems like such a silly word and I know I've used it a thousand times in this blog and in conversations about desensitization. But I cannot convey the life changes we have experienced - I just can't find another word.

When Calista was diagnosed (before her first birthday), I wanted to buy a bubble and stick her inside. The allergist told us that her next exposure to peanuts could be life-threatening and complete avoidance of the allergen would be the only way to keep her safe. I really was afraid of everything. The more I read, the more worried I became. You learn about cross-contamination, the dangers of peanut residue on surfaces, the products that have peanut or are processed in a facility, and on and on. We have learned that nuts can be found in the most random things - seed packets, tomato paste, etc.

You learn to read labels, wipe surfaces, educate everyone around about EpiPens. You see the fear in a teacher's eyes when you try to explain this -- when you ask them to teach your child, care about your child, show them the right way to treat others and oh, keep a lookout on any food, treats, etc. and be ready to save her life (if another student's lunchbox contains a bomb).

Next week, we will visit Dallas Allergy for a 24 peanut challenge. After that, she will be on Maintenance. Maintenance will require her to eat eight peanuts a day. But, she will be free to eat as many additional peanut products as she wants.

That means playdates will be okay, ice cream shops will be okay, cupcakes at school will be okay.

Wow!

Putting it all in perspective.

70 months since Calista was diagnosed.

22 appointments at Dallas Allergy.

22 days of school & day camp missed.

22 days of work missed.

4,840 miles driven.

1 little girl's life changed forever.

155 days in

155 days ago, Calista and I arrived at Dr. Wasserman's office to begin her Day One of desensitization. Today, we will increase to 10 peanuts every 12 hours.

She started 1st grade yesterday. We didn't need a peanut free classroom. We don't need a peanut free table. We don't have to spend every second waiting for the phone call about her having a reaction. Now, the school secretary may get a nice response when she calls me :) I always worried and almost hit panic mode every time the school phone number showed on my phone.

I'm so thankful we found Dr. Wasserman. This treatment has changed our lives in so many ways!