An Amazing Vacation

When Calista was diagnosed in 2006, I immediately thought of the things she would miss out on and the trips she couldn't take. 

Well, now she can!

We took an 8 day cruise to 4 different countries and she flew on 4 different airplanes. AND we all survived and had a blast. 

Thank you OIT!

Fascinated by the workings of an airport because she had never been there before. 

Trying new things in the Dominican Republic. 

Grand prize winner in the ship's game show!

So many things that were too dangerous to imagine before OIT. Blessed to have found this treatment. 

It works it works it works!

I absolutely LOVE sharing the news about OIT and desensitization.  I love reading about other families and their success.  I love reading about kids who are now safe.


SAFE.

Safe and pretty stinkin' free. 


It is an amazing place that I never thought we'd be.


So I share our news and I share the news from others.  I share it every single chance I get.  Because it is great and it works.

And my oversharing might just save a child or help a family.

Update: nothing new and that is AWESOME.

Calista still eats her 14 peanut M&Ms every night.

Sometimes she eats peanut butter sandwiches, candy, and other things that were forbidden.

And it's just fine.

We went skiing and ate at any restaurant we wanted.  She attended a sleepover and I didn't worry.  We are planning several vacations (one where she will fly for the first time) and peanuts are not a worry at all.


Life after OIT is pretty fabulous. 

Just normal, everyday life...

I received a text from a friend a few days ago. Knowing that I had been the self-appointed "peanut police" for 6+ years, so asked where she could find individually wrapped, peanut-free cookies. Umm...I don't know. 

I have no idea.

The "individually-wrapped" part throws me a bit, so I offered a few brand names and suggested websites where she could order.  But I started to realize that I haven't read a label in a while. A long while... After 6 years of reading every label everywhere we went (reading every label because Cal's life depended on it), I now can't remember the last time I looked at one. 

Wow.

Sometimes I forget about the day-to-day activities that consumed so much of our lives. The real fear that anything and everything was a potential bomb. 

Now I am only focused on sharing the good news of OIT, the success we've had and encouraging other parents to find out if it could work for their child. Oh, and I have to remember to buy more peanut M&Ms - Calista goes through a bag pretty quickly these days!

Warning - OIT is bad for your health.

It is.  OIT causes weight gain in parents. 

We had not been able to visit an ice cream shop for 6 years. Now, we have COMPLETE freedom. 

Got the call earlier today that Calista has been cleared on all nuts. That includes tree nuts that we've avoided for 6+ years. 

This paves the way for endless amounts of Rocky Road, Nutella gelato (she tried this evening) and pecan pie. 

I'd better up my gym membership :)

IgE numbers

For those who are interested -

IgE - February 2012

Peanut 55.08 (Class 5)

Hazelnut <0.08 (Negative)

Almond <0.08  (Negative)

Pecan <0.08  (Negative)

Cashew 0.30  (Class 2)

Pistachio <0.08  (Negative)

IgE - July 2013

Peanut 8.05 (Class 4)

Hazelnut <0.08  (Negative)

Almond 0.09 (Class 1)

Pecan <0.08  (Negative)

Cashew <0.08  (Negative)

Pistachio <0.08  (Negative)

Almost 1 year already?

Calista has an appointment this week at Dallas Allergy.  Scheduling this appointment has made me think about all that has changed since we met Dr. Wasserman.

Wow.

508  days ago, I sat in a doctor's office and watched a nurse give Calista the tiniest fraction of a peanut (mixed in liquid).  And I was scared.  Out.  Of.  My.  Mind.

But I was cool ;)   - probably not, but I was trying to be.  I was trying to be cool because Calista was a little nervous.  I'd spent her entire life telling her that peanuts were dangerous and then I let a nurse give her some (over and over for an entire day).

Wow.

In hindsight, she REALLY handled that well.

And now -- school is starting and I don't have to have that conversation with the teacher.  You know, the conversation where you tell them all about peanut allergy and how dangerous it is.  The conversation where you show them the Epinephrine and teach them how to use it and teach them the symptoms to watch for.  The conversation where you try not to scare the hell out of them while trying to make sure they realize that your child could die if they make a mistake.  The conversation that makes you think you really should've purchased a huge bubble and placed your child inside (just to keep her safe).  Yeah, that conversation.  And as you walk away, you add "And she needs a little help in math too"  - because the start of a school year has so much more to do with food allergy safety than anything else.



But I won't have that conversation this year.  Yes, she will have an Epi.  I'll tell the teacher about food allergies.  But my girl ate 24 whole peanuts on September 7, 2012 and has had 14 peanut M&Ms every single day since.

So back to school is actually about her education this year.  What an amazing concept :)


I am so very thankful to the entire team at Dallas Allergy Immunology.  OIT works.  It worked really well for us.  Some patients have bigger setbacks, but it is worth investigating.

For more information: http://dallasallergy.net/