Please!! Mind your own business!!

[happy2bmom0406]

My poor kids have had a tough year.  Not a terrible year, we are lucky, just a tough year!!  My son, who was going through many evaluations, was finally diagnosed with Autism.  Right after that my daughter had her annual physical and she had not grown enough in the last year.  Her size had become an issue.  After MANY tests and a lot of worrying....we found nothing.  Doing research on my own (a whole bunch on Cafe Mom) I requested a complete Food Allergy Test.  Our pediatrician was supportive but not optimistic that we had found our answer.  BUT there it was.  My daughter is severely allergic to Peanuts, Milk, and Eggs.  This caused a major malabsorption issue.  It is weird too, because she is very bubbly, happy, and smart.  Nothing seems to be wrong with her besides being very very small and she never had an allergic reaction.  This could have gone unnoticed until she had a major reaction.  Thankfully, avoiding these foods has done wonders.  All of the peanut, milk, and eggs are out of her system and she is finally growing!! 

This brings me to my son.  Reading more and more about Autism I found that he could possibly have Food Allergies as well.  He did have some exzema issues with his skin.  TURNS OUT...he is allergic to Soy, Corn, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Sesame Seeds, and Wheat.  Not only that but further testing showed that he has Celiac Disease, a major gluten intolerance.  The poor kid cannot eat ANYTHING!!  I felt so bad for him on Christmas!!  After eliminating all of the foods, the sweet angel is TALKING FULL SENTENCES!!!  The scary thing is they are now fully detoxed of these foods and a large reaction is very likely if ever exposed again.  Already we had a major swollen face rash from him touching home made play dough.  This has gluten in it, and he JUST TOUCHED IT FOR A SECOND!!

This brings me to my point...I have had a tough year, not the worst by any means but TOUGH!  I am a really lucky person.  I have a wonderful husband and THE TWO MOST BEAUTIFUL KIDS EVER!  BUT we are broke and my kids can die from food allergies so I admit I AM SCARED!  I have to spend HOURS and HOURS at the grocery store trying to read labels and put together some kind of healthy meal.  This is all on a TINY budget!!!  I also am not really a good cook to begin with so I am learning on so many levels.  Anyway, the other day, I was at YET ANOTHER STORE reading labels just trying to get some Ketchup for my kids.  I could not find the "safe" brand I got before.  In my exhausted state...I said out loud "All of this ketchup has Corn Syrup in it!" to my daughter.  Okay I know she is two but I was frustrated and tired and needed to say it out loud!!  A woman behind me says "Oh you are one of those moms!  My God just give the kids corn syrup, it won't kill them" while rolling her eyes.  Making everyone in the isle laugh.  I usually let ignorance go but this time I was too tired!  I said "YOU ARE WRONG, my son is severely allergic to corn and it WOULD kill him!" 

PLEASE LADIES...MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS IF YOU HEAR SOMEONE LIKE ME!!!  Go ahead and think I am crazy, that is your prerogative, just don't embarrass me in public with your "views".  People have a lot of views about the "right way" to eat.  There may be a VERY GOOD REASON BEHIND IT!!  You may not realize why they are eating the way they are!!!  Some people are on strict diets because of SERIOUS health issues.  My house is not gluten, peanut, tree nut, soy, corn, sesame seed, milk, and egg free because I believe all homes should be!!  TRUST ME...I want a chocolate chip cookie dipped in peanut butter on the side of PIZZA RIGHT NOW!!!  I am crazy about this diet because if I am not, my kids could die!!  HEAR ME...THEY COULD DIE!!!  If I sneak in the kitchen and consume any of these foods I could touch my kids and cause them to react!!!  I cringe every time my husband kisses them because he has facial hair and I am afraid that he could have some food on it.  Learning how to use an EPI-PEN for anaphylactic shock is SCARY and thinking of your children being exposed to these foods and in JUST SECONDS losing their lives,  is INSANE!!  I hardly sleep at night worrying about what to do to avoid these foods!  Don't add to my stress and verbalize how crazy you think I am!!!  It is just NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!!

AND PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!  If a parent is requesting you don't have some kind of food in your childs lunch box, PLEASE look beyond yourself!!  This may be a pain in the ASS but we cannot risk our kids lives!!!  I would love to not have to fight this battle but my kids lives are too important to me!  THIS IS REAL AND WE NEED HELP!!!  If you need to understand look on Discovery Health and see the show "When Food Kills".  Parents have lost their children to this!!!  One kid was dared to take a teaspoon of peanut butter at summer camp and sadly lost his life. 

Please be educated before you open your mouth!!!

[mamma84]

Jan. 6, 2009 at 9:27 PM

I'm sorry you've had a rough year.  Good for you for throwing that comment back into her face!!  I was one of those who thought it insane that kids couldn't have PBJ sandwiches at school anymore, not one who would get angry or anything, just thinking it odd, but that's because I didn't know even touching the stuff could be lethal.  I think most people assume it has to be consumed to cause harm.  I'm glad your kids are thriving now, and never let it go when people make comments like that!  Don't go psycho lol, but you let them know exactly WHY you're being so obsessive over finding the right ketchup :-)

[Helen]

Jan. 6, 2009 at 9:31 PM

I have heard about the gluten free diet for autistic kids.  I heard that it works wonders.  Candy canes are gluten free.  I teach a kid who's sister has a disease where she has to be gluten free.  Also, organic meat is gluten free.  The others may have gluten in it.

[SantaMom]

Jan. 6, 2009 at 9:32 PM

Wish I'd been there to watch!!!    

                                                                 

You GO, Mamma!  Well said!!!

[happy2bmom0406]

Jan. 6, 2009 at 9:35 PM

OH YEAH, I thought the same thing!!  I thought "So what if MY kid eats peanut butter!"  TURNS OUT that peanut allergy is so severe that a kid with peanut butter on them anywhere, even rubbed into a piece of clothing, can cause a LETHAL reaction to a child with an allergy (this is also true for tree nut and shellfish).  My kids were also exposed to peanut butter as well as their other allergies many times without "visible" reactions.  The reactions were on my daughters lack of growth and my son's developmental abilities.  Now that they are not exposed to the food anaphylaxis is VERY VERY LIKELY!  BUT the trade off is my son is finally able to communicate and my daughter is finally growing!  Thanks for your comment!!!!

(Original Poster)

[happy2bmom0406]

Jan. 6, 2009 at 9:38 PM

My son's autism is going away with the gluten free diet!  BUT unfortunately Candy Canes have corn syrup in them and in some instances soy (weird huh!)  I looked ALL OVER for Christmas!!  They are my favorite but unfortunately most candy is made from CORN!!!  AHHH!!!  Thanks for listening ladies!!!

SANTA MOM...Thanks!!  I wish you were there too!!!

(Original Poster)

[hfox]

Jan. 15, 2009 at 6:50 PM

WOW You have had a year! Im glad to see you standing up for your children though that is the sign of a great mama and your kids are blessed to have you.

[EthansMama825]

Jun. 22, 2011 at 10:33 PM

You are very right my dear and I give you all props for standing strong on this issue. I mean after all these are our babies!! If we don't stand strong for what is right for them; who will? It is a very scary issue and if nobody knows about it, stuff can happen. I would make a bracelet for his arm, so everybody knows!! You sound like a wonderful mother and I hope things get better for you. I live in 95965 if you ever want to talk on the phone sometime or get the kids together for a play date? Message me... My name is Tessa and my son is 3 - his name is Ethan