Please come join us at our Wednesday, November 17th meeting of the Better Parents of Kids with Food Allergies Support Group.    Our meeting will begin at 6:30 PM in Room 407 at Saddleback Church.

We hope you will schedule the time to come join us and other parents that suffer from this difficult and often life-threatening condition.  If this is your first time to Saddleback Church, you will want to give yourself an extra 15 minutes in order to familiarize yourself with the campus.  It is a safe environment and very well lit.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at: [email protected] or (949) 229-1110.

Just a friendly reminder that we have a very special guest this week (Wednesday) at the Better Parents of Kids with Food Allergies Support Group meeting. You will not want to miss this incredible discussion. As before, we will be meeting in room 407 at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at Saddleback Church. This week, Georgina Seeck, who has been regularly attending our support group meetings, has been developing some very exciting information as it pertains to food additives found in our food supply. What is exciting is that much of what she will present goes in line with kids with food allergies and she has been helping to adapt the information for the The Daniel Plan as well. She and Dr. Supna will be planning a new support group called The Saddleback Rancho Capistrano Wellness Ministry, of the Saddleback Church San Juan Capistrano location. This is going to be some great information that parents should know and will hopefully expand our understanding of some of the dangers concerning processed foods and how to use food choices to help better reduce potential allergic reactions. Once again…you will not want to miss this evening. Georgina is the founder of “Green Cupcakes and More”, Allergy-Friendly Baked Goods, Founding Team Member “Chief Change Agent” for the West Coast for AllergyKids.com. Georgina is actively involved in giving back through her company and has served Non Profit Organizations including, The Ecology Center, Easter Seals, TACA, Orange County Celiac Spruce Chapter #14, and, Shea Center for Therapeutic Horse Back Riding. She has appeared on CNN, KDOC TV, and has been featured in OC Family, OC Register, OC Register “The Juice”, and in the near future, OC Register “Faith in the Valley. She is also creating a speaking series on “Living an Allergy Free Life, in an Allergy Filled World”. Saddleback Church is located at: 1 Saddleback Parkway, Lake Forest, CA 92660 And a quick follow-up on last month’s meeting… I just wanted to personally thank Dr. Kendra Klassen for spending a full evening this us, educating and answering our questions. For those of you unable to attend our last meeting, Dr. Klassen is a licensed psychologist who received her doctorate in clinical psychology and came to our Better Parents of Kids with Food Allergies Support Group to speak on the topic of how anxiety can impact kids with food allergies.  In addition to her website Family Restorations at (www.familyrestorations.com), she also posted an excellent article on her blog titled “Helping Your Child Overcome Anxiety.” (http://familyrestorations.blogspot.com/2011/02/helping-your-child-overcome-anxiety.html) This is a must read post for helping you understand and manage anxiety in your kids.

Dr. Kendra Klassen is a Christian psychologist and can be reached at: (949) 303-8933 or [email protected]com.

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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 FARE National Food Allergy Conference will be held May 16-17, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach in Long Beach, CA, gathering the country’s leading food allergy experts and members of the food allergy community together for a weekend of world-class programming. The conference provides a unique opportunity for individuals and families managing food allergies, caregivers, school staff, health care professionals and others interested in the field to gather as a community and learn about advances in food allergy research and advocacy, best practices and practical skills for living well with food allergies, and much more. Individuals 11 years and older are invited to join. Both full conference and single-day registrations will be available.

For more information, please visit:  http://www.foodallergy.org/CONFERENCE

Food allergy is an abnormal reaction of the immune system that occurs soon after eating specific foods. The immune system overacts to the proteins found in that food. Even a very tiny amount of the allergic food can trigger digestive problems, hives and swollen airways. In some cases, these reactions can be so severe that they cause life-threatening anaphylaxis.

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The event is scheduled to be held on October 31, 2015 at Mason Regional Parke in Irvine.  What a great way to begin your Halloween with increasing awareness for food allergies in Orange County.  

For more information and to signup your team, please visit:

www.foodallergywalk.org/oc2015

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As parents of kids that suffer from food allergies, we certainly understand how the beginning of the school year can bring many challenges and unforeseen stresses.  And with Halloween upon us, the Better Parents of Kids with Food Allergy support group is a great place to connect with other parents to hear how parents are dealing with their concerns.

Come on to our next meeting on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 6:30 pm in Room 407 at Saddleback Church.  If this is your first time to Saddleback Church, you will want to give yourself an extra 15 minutes in order to familiarize yourself with the campus.  It is a safe environment and very well lit.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at: [email protected] or (949) 229-1110.

Wanted to share this video with you that I had run across YouTube.  Great video to explain the passion, fear and concern that comes with dealing with food allergies from the perspective of children and parents.

The video is called “Food Allergy: A Family Perspective” and was provided by Food Allergy Initiative (FAIUSA.org).  In the video, Chicago families share their experiences of living with food allergies and coping with life threatening reactions.

Kid:  “I have an allergy”

Kid:  “I am allergic to peanuts and tree nuts”

Kid:  “I felt really sick”

Kid:  “Eggs, dairy”

Kid:  “It feels like someone is choking me.”

Kid:  “Milk, wheat”

Kid:  “I felt like I was in the water and I couldn’t breathe”

Kid:  “Rye, garlic.”

Kid:  “I felt like I was being strangled.”

Kid:  “All fish but salmon, halibut and sword fish.”

Kid:  “You can’t breathe.  It’s really hard to breathe.”

Kid:  “Um, that’s it.”

Kid:  “Like how your leg falls asleep like that is what happened to my throat and then it would start closing up.”

Man:  “He bit into the cookie and we did not think twice about it because we did not know what food allergies were at the time.  We heard of them, but vaguely, but really did not have any concept or understanding of what it really meant.”

Woman:  “At that point, I was just thinking…that I needed to be sure that she didn’t stop breathing because it was happening so fast.  And I was….really scared because we were in our own home and we had eaten food that we had eaten a number of times in the past and we believed it to be safe.”

Man:  “We would have been on that flight for four hours and it certainly does not take four hours for anaphylaxis to kick in and the worse that could happen is that they cannot breathe any more.

Woman:  “We called the doctor and he said explain to me what happened. And I told him, you know, we were at a brunch, etcetera, etcetera and I said, ‘I don’t think this is related but now he seems to be getting a cold, like he is coughing and hacking…’  And there was silence on the end of the line and he said ‘where are you?’  And I said, ‘well, we are almost home.  We are at 13^th and Michigan.’  And he said, ‘I want you to listen very carefully.  And um.  He said, ‘I want you to go to the nearest hospital.  Don’t stop at any red lights.  Just beep your horn and go through.  Do you know where the nearest hospital is?’  And I said, ‘Yea.’  And so we went to Northwestern and although that is our hospital we had never been to the emergency room.

Woman:  “I play that day over in my head and I….thank God Mattie kept asking me for that cake because I think to myself, if we were five more minutes and they were up in that airplane, I don’t know”

Kid:  “If you are not prepared for an allergy, it’s not going to end up good.”

Man:  “When I was a kid, I felt like I was the only one who had an allergy.  Nowadays, it is so prevalent.”

Woman:  “Something seems wrong, when you go into schools and every single class in the school has a child with a food allergy.”

Woman:  “The difference from 8 years ago today is tremendous and I don’t think really people understand the momentum that food allergies have right now.  And if you think about where we will be in 10 years if we don’t have a cure…it’s scary.”

Man:  “A cure would be the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders.”

Kid:  “I would like just have so much more fun, if I had the cure.”

Man:  “You know with that cure, at the end of the day, doesn’t relieve you of every worry, but it would relieve us and other parents that have kids with food allergies with a huge burden.”

Woman:  “I have a lot of hope that if we get everyone together.  I am absolutely conviction that we have the power to just really change the course for our children.”

Kid:  “I could go to parties and not worry about, like what I am eating and not have to be so careful with everything.”

Man:  “To know that, we don’t have to worry.  That he doesn’t have to worry more important than us, would just be a great thing.”

Woman:  “I feel like we are just scratching the surface there are so many families to find.  And I think if we can just all act together, I feel there is absolutely no reason that we can’t cure it.  So I just want to find those families everywhere.  If we put our efforts together and make this happen.

The original video can be found on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab6CXdf48as

I think it is worth noting that the one thing that is common in all of the above families is a sense of fear.  Fear is such a strong emotion but we need to remember to put our trust in the One above.

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. 

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.

I had an interesting conversation with my wife the other day on the topic of Food Allergies.  It is interesting because every parent that engages in the daily battle of managing food allergies for their child is an amazing Hero in my opinion.  These are the parents that wake up every day and help their kids manage the not-so-wonderful world of food allergies.  And let me also make it clear that this article is not meant to discount or discourage those families with suffer from Celiac Disease, EOE, Gluten-Free or other food-type disorders.  We are talking about life-threatening food allergies.  For us parents battling the Food Allergy war, we can clearly understand the daily battles that ensue with your children and the difficult choices that have to be made daily as your kids choose was to eat several times throughout the day.  It is an emotional battle that occurs every day.

But one of the biggest gripes I have with Food Allergies is the issue with the name itself….Food Allergy and here is the basic problem.  The name itself does not properly communicate the incredible risk of life that is involved with every meal.  How many times as a parent have you heard the words “I also get an upset stomach after drinking milk” after you have explained to the stranger at the food counter that your child has a food allergy.  As a parent, I would love to have the issues of Diarrhea, Indigestion, Nausea or Vomiting.  I would absolutely welcome any of these side effects over the fear of immediately stop-breathing symptom.  Having different symptoms would be like a SPRING DAY filled with butterflies, deer, bacon and harps playing music in the background (okay, maybe the harps would be replaced with a Ukulele)….but you get the idea.  It would be amazing.

But no.  When your child has a life-threatening food allergy (and in the cases of most of the people that get to visit our support groups we are talking multiple life-threatening food allergies), this is not the case.  It can lead to DEATH without intervention.  It can happen QUICKLY.  It can happen without major visual symptoms.  Close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself at one of your favorite restaurants looking through the menu.  As you scan through the items of that menu, most of the items have a little icon next to them with the words “Eating this will lead to DEATH”.  What would that be like?  Would you still want to eat there?  Would you trust the food that arrives on your plate?  Now imagine that it is not you but your child.  Walk through the above questions again and that is what these parents go through multiple times per day:  at the grocery store, at coffee shop, at home, at Grandmas, at School. etc. etc. etc.

Welcome to the very-difficult-world of what it is like for a parent of a kid with food allergies.  This is the daily routine that they face during every meal, through every day, with their children.  What if you have two children with food allergies (like many of us do)….then the very-difficult-world is multiplied exponentially.  It is the simple process of eliminating foods from their kid’s diets that will lead to death.  It is a tremendous burden and a thankless job.  It is a job that is done every day by thousands of parents (mainly moms and caregivers) each and every day.  But as we go through this minefield, we must constantly remind those around us at what is at stake for our children.  This is serious business with serious consequences.

It was interesting because I was listening to some of the recent horrific news about some of the recent attacks in France.  Absolutely terrible and our prayers go out to those families impacted.  As I listened, there was a story of one of the FBI officials talking about it and how they prepare for presidential speeches and events.  Simply said, the FBI needs to get things right 100% of the time.  There can be no mistakes.  This resonated with me that the same thing happens 50 times a day by every parent with a kid with food allergy.  They can never be wrong….ever.  Not even once.

So this leads me back to my original conversation with my wife on the topic of Food Allergies.  We need to come up with something better for this disease.  If it was called “INSTANT DEATH DISEASE FROM FOOD” or “MY KID WILL STOP BREATHING IF I EAT THAT DISEASE” or anything that instantly communicates the extreme importance of it then I would be complete favor of that.  Think about how much easier the conversations at school would be with those parents that insist that it is their right to bring a PB&J sandwich into the classroom.  The uncomfortable conversations at family gatherings where some relative insists on putting out the bowl of life-ending nuts on the table for everyone (but your child) to enjoy.  It the label for “Food Allergy” was just somehow different and could immediately described the emotion and the importance of the subject.

So if you are a parent without a kid with food allergy and you hear those words Food Allergy, please remember what is at stake for these parents.  It is not fatigue or indigestion that is at stake.  It is a child’s life that can be taken very quickly with the simple ingestion of a harmless looking cookie.

For now, I would continue to refer to Food Allergy as “A Life Threatening Food Allergy” until someone comes up with a better name.

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If you live in the San Diego area (or even Orange County), the FARE Walk San Diego will be on Sunday, June 29, 2014.    The FARE Walk for Food Allergy brings together thousands of people who are seeking a safer world for the 15 million Americans living with food allergies.  The funds from the walk go to raise money for food allergy research, education, advocacy and awareness.

Walk Schedule
Registration/Check-in: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Walk Ceremony: 12:00pm
Walk Begins: Immediately Following Ceremony

Walk Location
The San Diego NTC Park at Liberty Station 2455 Cushing Road San Diego CA 92106.

For more information on this event, please contact:

FARE West Regional Office Alice Gordon – Regional Development Director Phone: 310-883-8644

Email: [email protected]