I do not normally make a big deal about Food Allergy Meetings but we are very fortunate to have Linda Coss come and speak at our Food Allergy Group tonight.  You will not want to miss this opportunity.

Linda Coss has been a pioneer in the food allergy world, a speaker at the 2016 Food Allergy Bloggers Conference in November and is the author of four books:  75 Marketing Tips to Grow Your Business; How to Manage Your Child’s Life-threatening Food Allergies: Practical Tips for Everyday Life; What’s to Eat? The Milk-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook; and What Else is to Eat? The Dairy-, Egg- and Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook.

Linda will be speaking on the topic of “Raising a Child Who Takes Life-Threatening Food Allergies in Stride”

As parents, we’re all striving to raise happy, well-adjusted children. Most parents will tell you that trying to achieve this goal can be a real challenge. And that’s without overlaying the challenges that we face as parents of children with life-threatening food allergies!

In this 20- to 25-minute talk, nationally-known food allergy author Linda Coss discusses how to handle daily food allergy management in such a way that your child grows up feeling completely comfortable with the reality of his or her allergies, accepts the situation without serious emotional trauma, and turns out “well-adjusted” in spite of it all. It’s a 10-step approach, and it all starts with the recognition that you, as the parent, set the tone and teach by example.

Linda will be available to answer questions and join in our food allergy discussion.  As always, new people are always welcome and we cannot provide any child care  Our meeting will begin at 6:30 PM in the Ministry Office 2 building.

To find the Church Office please visit the website:  https://www.ocfoodallergy.com/when-we-meet/

For detailed directions from Google Maps, please visit here:  https://goo.gl/Wvr27z

Not sure if you are aware but there are still two more FAAN Walk 2012 events that are fairly close for those of us living in Orange County.  There is still time to participate since the next events are in Long Beach (in October) and San Diego (in November).  Personally, I have never attended one of these events, but I am confident it is a great way to meet some other families that also are impacted by Food Allergies.

Here are some links to the upcoming events:

Why a Food Allergy Walk?

The goal of the FAAN Walk is to raise public awareness, to provide advocacy and education, and to advance research on behalf of all those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis.

•  We walk to fund food allergy awareness, advocacy, education, and research programs.
• We walk to provide understanding, hope, and an opportunity for those affected by food allergies to network.
• We walk to save a life!

Over the years, FAAN has been at the forefront of progress in food allergy awareness, advocacy, education, and research. Findings from research studies have been used to change federal and state laws, improve school policies, raise public awareness, improve the daily lives of individuals with food allergy, and provide education for patients, caregivers, and health professionals. Funds from programs like the FAAN Walk for Food Allergy support FAAN’s efforts to achieve these feats.

For more information on the FAAN Walk, please visit them online at: http://www.foodallergywalk.org

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May 2012 – The two powerhouses of food allergy awareness and research are planning to join forces. Earlier this month, the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) announced their intent to merge, pending regulatory approvals.

The merger appears to be a perfect marriage – blending FAAN’s expertise in spreading awareness via publicized information, resources, and special food allergy programs and FAI’s role as a major funding source for food allergy research. In a recent press release, representatives for FAAN stated that, “The unified organization will focus on funding research to find a cure, advocating for food-allergic people, increasing awareness about the severity and growing prevalence of food allergies, and educating the public and other key stakeholders about the disease and the urgent need for a cure.

Food allergies are finally gaining recognition in the mainstream, but awareness has unfortunately come with a cost. Studies show that one in every 13 children now live with a food allergy, and nearly 40 percent of those kids have already experienced a severe or life-threatening food-allergic reaction. Hopefully this expanded organization can help to identify some of the underlying causes behind the increasing prevelance of food allergies.

For more information on the two organizations, visit www.faiusa.org and www.foodallergy.org.

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We are so excited that information regarding this support group is now available on theSaddleback Church website now. Our first allergy support group meeting will be starting on July 21st at 6:30 pm in Room 407.

Our hopes and prayers is that this group will be a huge blessing to those parents and families in Orange County, California who have a child (or children) impact by some type of food allergy. Read More

Please come join us for the Orange County Parents of Kids with Food Allergies Support Group Meeting meeting on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 in Room 407 at Saddleback Church at 6:30 PM. The Better Parents of Children with Food Allergies support group is a non-medical support group designed for parents of kids who are impacted by food allergies.

I am a 33-year-old, married man. A few months ago, I have experienced dribbling after urination and excessive urination at night. Sometime I felt urge to urinate and leaking, or weak urinary stream. I consulted my issue with a doctor. I was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. I had an enlarged prostate. Due to this, I had few sexual problems with my partner. Later I came to know that, It was developed impotence and inability to get an erection during sex. I used to have sex only 2 times a week with my partner.

My Australian doctor prescribed me Generic Cialis to overcome this problem. When I took Cialis I had flu-like symptoms (such as stuffy nose, sneezing, or sore throat) initially. Afterwards, My partner and I were able to enjoy sex life with love. We have no children yet. We are trying to have a baby.

I suggest Cialis for everyone who is suffering from BPH and ED problem. According to me, Cialis is the best medicine to cure BPH and ED. We have a healthy sex life. I took it before 30 minutes of sex. It helped us through quick appraisal of sexual efficiency. We found a complete satisfaction by its fast working around 25 minutes.

The group meets to provide:

• Emotion support for one another
• A safe place to share concerns, successes and strategies to manage your kids food allergies
• Learning about new resources and tools

Come learn and share different ways to cope with these often difficult environments for kids with food allergies.

Saddleback Church is located at: 1 Saddleback Parkway, Lake Forest, CA 92660

The Saddleback Church Parents of Children with Food Allergies Support Group
Phone: (949) 229-1110
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.ocfoodallergy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ocfoodallergy

For those parents whose children suffer from food allergies, we probably do not go to many places without our homemade meals, Kirkland wipres and package with medicines and EpiPens.  However, when was the last time that you (or the people that care for your kids) go through a refresher course on using an administering an EpiPen.  I know they are supposedly simple to use (and I have not had to personally administer one)….but it does travel with us everywhere so knowing how to use it in the event of an emergency is essential as a parent of a child with food allergies.  As a quick review, I downloaded the app from the Apple Appstore to my iPad and found it very easy to follow.  There are some slides and a quick video.

If you have an IOS device, the Dey Pharma application is FREE and it worth the few seconds it takes to download.  It is useful in refreshing your skills or even helping someone else (like a teacher, a babysitter, mother-in-law, friend) understand how to administer epinephrine from the EpiPen in the event of an allergic reaction.  Of course, if you ever have an instant of doubt, seeking a doctor or calling 911 immediately should always be a first course of action. 

The iPhone and iPad application offers the following useful information:

• A video demonstrating how to use an EpiPen Auto-Injector
• A quick slideshow (User Guide) to help you visually walk someone through the three steps of an EpiPen injection
• The ability for you and your healthcare professional to create multiple allergy profiles listing allergens to avoid and symptoms that may indicate an allergic emergency
• The ability to share the User Guide and your allergy profile(s) with anyone via Email

To download the application for your Ipad or iPhone, please click here for more information.

Hopefully in the next release of the application they will offer the abiliy to track and e-mail you reminders when your EpiPen’s are about to expire.

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Hi Friends, I am so looking forward to connecting with everyone our new night, Tuesday. I was able to attend the FAAN conference in Anaheim last week. I learned a lot, got some good resources, and met a lot of wonderful people that deal with what we deal with on a daily basis. It was a day of emotions and a lot of information.

How ironic that coming off that weekend my daughter had a reaction this week at school. I am so glad I was there volunteering to care for her needs right away. She is fine and thank goodness for medicine that brings immediate healing.

Being able to meet with others that share this lifestyle is so important. I really value your stories, feelings, and information.

We are still trying to make it easier for you to bring your kids if needed.  We have an empty adjoining room that would be a good place for kids to color, watch a portable DVD if you have one, or play with other easily portable toys you can bring.

I hope you can make it this Tuesday.

Blessings to you all,
Kathryn

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The feedback from everyone that responded to our recent survey overwhelmingly helped us to decide to move the Support Group meetings to a new evening. The third Tuesday of every month will now be the new meeting time which goes into effect immediately.

The June meeting will now be Tuesday, June 21st. The meeting room at Saddleback Church will remain the same. Please come join us for the Orange County Parents of Kids with Food Allergies Support Group Meeting meeting on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 in Room 407 at Saddleback Church at 6:30 PM. The Better Parents of Children with Food Allergies support group is a non-medical support group designed for parents of kids who are impacted by food allergies. The group meets to provide:

• Emotion support for one another
• A safe place to share concerns, successes and strategies to manage your kids food allergies
• Learning about new resources and tools

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I would like respond to a Parenting article that I just read titled “The Truth About Food Allergies.”   You can read it here.  I would definitely agree that the author is correct to highlight some of the amazing advances that are occurring in the area of food allergies.  However, it seems clear that there are definitely some areas that also expose some of the misunderstanding that exists when trying to walk in the shoes of a parent whose child has food allergies.

In one section, the author tries to convey that we are now “allergy savvy and accepting.”  I cannot speak for other parents but only can speak from my own experiences and I would say that this statement is far from the truth.   Things are better than they have been for many parents.  If you were a parent 15 years back, for instance like Linda Coss, who has written several great books on Food Allergy Recipes, you were a pioneer as a parent and flying blind if your kid suffered from food allergies.  There were no food labels indicating the existence of certain food allergens.  No studies being performed in the area of food allergies.    No Internet to quickly turn to in hopes of finding an answer.  Yes…things are better than 15 years ago and even 5 year ago.  But those of us whose kids have food allergies have true daily struggles.

Sending your child off to a public school requires a lot of prayer and faith that the Lord will be watching your kid from high above.  It is a dangerous place.  It is definitely better if your kid has peanut allergies because there has been some progress made…but peanuts are not the only life-threatening allergen.    Anaphylaxis can occur in milk, eggs, fish and other common food items.  The next time you are at school…count the number of items at any given table that contain some sort of “milk” product.  Believe me…milk exists in everything.  However, if you kid does have milk allergies…you will have a few choices as a parent.   You can choose to have them sit by themselves, away from other kids.   You can have them sit with at the “peanut-allergy” table where every kid at the table will most likely be eating something that is deadly to your child.  Or have them sit at a regular table with the other kids and have faith that your child will be safe.   These are the tough decisions that parents with kids with food allergies get to make.

Luckily we go to a school that is accepting of the food allergies….but it is still a lot of work.  It is work in the process of “understanding” and “educating”.  Educating teachers; writing letters; being involved in the school; observing your child in different conditions and environments…..and some of the things to consider.  And even in the “best” of situations, you can still run into non-accepting and even “bullying” behavior by other children if you kid has food allergies.  Our child at age 6 has already experienced this in school.  This is not what I would consider to be an “accepting” behavior.

However, there is good news.  We are so blessed to live in Orange County with access to such a great support group that meets at Saddleback Church monthly.  Meeting with other parents that share the same daily struggles has made a great deal of different in our lives.  As parents, we are extremely hopeful that are kids will grow out of their food allergies and that someday food allergies will no longer exist….but in the interim, we are going to pray daily for our children.

Going back to the article, the unfortunate situation is that the article paints too much of a picture that the “war on food allergies” has now been already won….and this is a disservice in my opinion.  Parents of food allergy children are not waking up everyday thinking of allergy cures.   They are trying to navigate their ways through the daily obstacles of dealing with food.  My wife and I are praying for an allergy cure….but the daily struggles of food allergies usually have us focused on praying to get through the day without an incident.  Let’s not forget there are a lot of possibilities for cures…but no cures as of yet.  There is a lot of research in process but a lot more research to do.  There are a lot of parents with kids with food allergies today and this rate is growing.   And with the increase in numbers, more parents (and children) that are in need of support.

The best thing we can do for our kids today is to help others understand the problem of food allergies and to live a life in which we love one another.  As Jesus Christ said in Mark 12:31, “love your neighbor as yourself.”   This means putting yourself in the shoes of others and understanding what they are going through.

 If you are a parent of a child with food allergies and live Orange County, we would love for you to come and share your experiences and gain support from our monthly support group at https://www.ocfoodallergy.com

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Orange County, Food Allergy Awareness Week is upon us.  In 1998, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (now FARE), started Food Allergy Awareness Week to help educate families, schools, about the dangers of food allergies and how important it is keep our children safe.

Food Allergy is a real medical condition that impacts 1 in 13 kids.  If you think about this in terms of Orange County schools, that is on average 2 kids in every classroom.  To help spread the word, FARE has a number of different materials that are extremely useful in educating others on the serious nature of a food allergy condition.

Here are just some of the materials:

Posters

Brochures

​For more information, please visit FARE at http://www.foodallergy.org/food-allergy-awareness-week/activities

Richmond, VA (November 20, 2017) kaléo, a privately-held pharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for AUVI-Q® (epinephrine injection, USP) 0.1 mg, the first and only epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) specifically designed for the treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in infants and small children weighing 16.5 to 33 pounds (7.5 to 15 kilograms) who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions.

The sNDA for the AUVI-Q 0.1 mg Auto-injector was granted Priority Review by the FDA, an expedited regulatory pathway reserved for products that may provide significant improvements in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of serious conditions when compared to available therapies.

AUVI-Q is a compact epinephrine auto-injector with industry-first features, including a voice prompt system that guides a user with step-by-step instructions through the delivery process, and a needle that automatically retracts following administration. The new 0.1 mg-dose epinephrine auto-injector has a shorter needle length and lower dose of epinephrine than current FDA approved 0.15 mg and 0.3 mg epinephrine auto-injectors.

Children are increasingly being treated for anaphylaxis. There was a 129.8 percent increase in emergency room visits for anaphylaxis among children four years old and younger between 2005 and 2014.i According to a study published in Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, 43 percent of children weighing 16.5 pounds (7.5 kilograms) to 33 pounds (15 kilograms) treated with a 0.15 mg EAI having a standard 12.7 mm needle length are at risk of having the needle strike the bone, therefore potentially impacting the administration of epinephrine during a life-threatening emergency.ii The needle length in AUVI-Q 0.1 mg was specifically designed for use with infants and small children to help mitigate this safety concern.

“Today’s decision by the FDA to approve the AUVI-Q 0.1 mg Auto-injector is exciting for all of us in the life-threatening allergy community who have been working for many years to fulfill this unmet medical need,” said Spencer Williamson, President and CEO of kaléo. “As a company that focuses on patients first, and providing potentially life-saving treatments, we are particularly glad we will be able to help caregivers by providing an EAI that was specifically designed with an appropriate dose and needle length for infants and children (16.5 to 33 pounds) in order to maximize the potential for a safe administration of epinephrine.”

“The approval of AUVI-Q 0.1 mg will help achieve our goal of working to fulfill unmet medical needs,” said Eric S. Edwards, MD, PhD, Vice President of Innovation and Research & Development at kaléo. “We developed the AUVI-Q 0.1 mg EAI to deliver a dose of epinephrine appropriate to infants and small children weighing 16.5 – 33 pounds, with a shorter needle length to help mitigate the risk of striking bone which could potentially cause injury or interfere with the delivery of epinephrine.”

Only AUVI-Q 0.1 mg has a dose and needle length designed specifically for treating anaphylaxis in infants and small children weighing 16.5 – 33 pounds. AUVI-Q 0.1 mg includes the innovative AUVI-Q electronic voice instruction system as well as visual cues to help guide users step-by-step through the administration.

“The approval of an epinephrine auto-injector specifically designed for infants and small children is timely, especially given the recent changes to guidelines recommending that certain high-risk infants, as young as four to six months old, be introduced to peanut-containing foods,” said Eleanor Garrow-Holding1, President and CEO of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT). “We are pleased that the pediatric allergy healthcare community and parents of infants and small children with life-threatening allergies will have the ability to obtain an FDA-approved epinephrine auto-injector in the event of an allergic emergency. We look forward to the availability of AUVI-Q 0.1 mg.”

“Until now, healthcare practitioners and caregivers to infants and small children have not had an epinephrine auto-injector with an appropriate dose of epinephrine available to them, potentially causing some delay in the administration of epinephrine in a life-threatening allergic emergency,” said Dr. Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo1, a pediatric allergist, and fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; and American Academy of Pediatrics specializing in the management of life-threatening allergies and anaphylaxis. “Having an epinephrine auto-injector with a needle length and dose specifically designed for infants and small children should help alleviate concerns around hitting the bone or injecting too much epinephrine.”

Identical twin brothers, Evan and Eric Edwards, the inventors of AUVI-Q, know what it is like to live with life-threatening allergies, both as patients and parents of food-allergic children. Their goal was to develop an epinephrine auto-injector that contained innovative features, such as a voice instruction system that helps guide patients and caregivers step-by-step through the injection process. Evan and Eric Edwards believe and trust in AUVI-Q, not only for themselves, but also for their children and other families who may have to depend on it to administer epinephrine during an allergic emergency.

The AUVI-Q 0.1 mg Auto-injector is projected to be available for patients in the first half of 2018.  To learn more about AUVI-Q (0.3 mg, 0.15 mg and 0.1 mg), please visit www.auvi-q.com.

About Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis (pronounced ana-fuh-lak-sis) is a serious allergic reaction that happens quickly and may cause death. Anaphylaxis can occur as a result of exposure to allergens including tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, insect bites, latex and medication, among other allergens.

About AUVI-Q (0.3 mg, 0.15 mg and 0.1 mg)

AUVI-Q (epinephrine injection, USP) Auto-injector is a prescription medicine used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or who have a history of serious allergic reactions. AUVI-Q contains epinephrine, a well-established, first-line treatment for severe, life-threatening allergic reactions that occur as a result of exposure to allergens including food such as peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, dairy, eggs, soy and wheat; insect stings or bites; latex and medication, among other allergens and causes.

AUVI-Q is the only compact epinephrine auto-injector with a voice instruction system that helps guide patients and caregivers step-by-step through the injection process, and a needle that automatically retracts following administration. In anaphylaxis emergencies, it is often individuals without medical training who need to step in and deliver potentially life-saving epinephrine. AUVI-Q was designed through careful analysis of the situations where epinephrine auto-injectors are used and with significant input from the allergy community that relies on it incorporating Human Factors Engineering (HFE). HFE is about designing products or systems that are easy to operate and, most importantly, support correct use, with the goal to remove the potential for error.

For more information about AUVI-Q (0.3 mg, 0.15 mg and 0.1 mg)  visit www.auvi-q.com.

Indication

AUVI-Q® (epinephrine injection, USP) is a prescription medicine used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions.

Important Safety Information

AUVI-Q is for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and does not take the place of emergency medical care. Seek immediate medical treatment after using AUVI-Q. Each AUVI-Q contains a single dose of epinephrine. AUVI-Q should only be injected into your outer thigh, through clothing if necessary. If you inject a young child or infant with AUVI-Q, hold their leg firmly in place before and during the injection to prevent injuries. Do not inject AUVI-Q into any other part of your body, such as into veins, buttocks, fingers, toes, hands, or feet. If this occurs, seek immediate medical treatment and make sure to inform the healthcare provider of the location of the accidental injection. Only a healthcare provider should give additional doses of epinephrine if more than two doses are necessary for a single allergic emergency.

Rarely, patients who use AUVI-Q may develop infections at the injection site within a few days of an injection. Some of these infections can be serious. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms at an injection site: redness that does not go away, swelling, tenderness, or the area feels warm to the touch. If you have certain medical conditions, or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse or you may have more or longer lasting side effects when you use AUVI-Q. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, especially medicines for asthma. Also tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, especially if you have asthma, a history of depression, thyroid problems, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart problems or high blood pressure, have any other medical conditions, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Epinephrine should be used with caution if you have heart disease or are taking certain medicines that can cause heart-related

(cardiac) symptoms.

The Better Parents of Children with Food Allergies support group is a non-medical support group designed for parents of kids who are impacted by food allergies.  The group meets to provide:

• Emotion support for one another
• A safe place to share concerns, successes and strategies to manage your kids food allergies
• Learning about new resources and tools

As parents of two kids with different foods allergies, we understand the daily challenges that parents face as they send their kids to school, friend events or even playing with the neighborhood.  The greatest parts of being a part of this support group is that you will quickly learn that you are not alone as a parent.  There many parents in our community, in Orange County that deal with the same daily struggles with their children.  The group has children of all ages and is a very safe environment based on Christian values.

We meet every other month, on the third Tuesday of every month at Saddleback church and you can find directions by going here.  Please check our home page for our next meeting date.  Meetings start at 6:30 pm in Room 312 and last until about 8:00 pm.  The campus is well lit and has plenty of parking.  We hope that you will come and join us for our next meeting.

To sign up for our mailing list, please click here.

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at: [email protected] or contact us by phone at: (949) 229-1110.

So the family decided to check out Sub Zero Ice Cream and Yogart in Laguna Niguel, CA this evening.  Our oldest has a life threatening food allergy to milk, so our typical options when going out for after dinner treats usually involve those in the sorbet variety.  But tonight was different.

The good news is that this place really paid special attention to our food allergy.  Additionally, they use Almond Milk in many of their options.   Additionally, this is nice if you are concerned about calories and trying to make healthier choices.

Sub Zero is a great option for those who have food allergies.  In fact one of their posters even mention the wood “food allergies” in the print….nice.  Additionally, it is fun.  Basically after your ingredients are selected, the real fun begins.  -321 degrees of pure Nitrogen turning your bowl into custom ice cream before your eyes.

The only Orange County location is in Laguna Niguel, about 2 miles off the 5 freeway at the Oso exit.

SubZero Ice Cream and Yogart 27281 La Paz Road, Ste Q

Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

Looks like there is a new Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis program launching.  Eleanor Garrow-Holding, who was once a part of FARE, is now the CEO of Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team or FAACT. FAACT’s goal is to educate, advocate, and raise awareness for families and individuals affected by food allergies and life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Garrow-Holding provides leadership for all of FAACT’s initiatives and programs, including conferences across the country, education for school and restaurant staff, and statewide legislation  and civil rights advocacy for students. FAACT will also grow the very successful Camp TAG (The Allergy Gang) – a summer camp for children with food allergies and their siblings that Garrow-Holding founded in 2009.

By networking with other food allergy organizations, FAACT is also able to supply the most up-to-date resources and provide a more cohesive level of support to patients and families by some of the nation’s most dedicated advocates, all with personal connections to allergic disease. 

The leadership base of FAACT includes attorney Amelia Smith Murphree, founder of “Food Allergic Children’s Education in Tupelo;” Karen Underwood Harris, president and founder at “Food Allergy Kids of Atlanta;” Thanita Glancey, president of the “Loudoun Allergy Network;” author Nicole Smith, president and CEO of “Allergic Child;” and Los Angeles media producer Yael Kozar, who leads “CA, Allergy Support & Anaphylaxis Prevention” and created “The Anaphylactic Allergy Podcast”.

For more information about FAACT, please visit www.foodallergyawareness.org.