What can you as a parent do to protect
your child when they aren’t around?
As a parent of an
allergy child, I live in constant fear when she is not around me. You see, my
daughter has a severe allergy to peanuts. Now, when I say severe, that does not
just mean she breaks outs in a rash when she eats them. I mean we have 2
minutes to get her the epinephrine shot or things get ugly fast. She is one of
those special ones who is also an airborne risk when anything peanut is
floating around near her.
So what is a mom to
do?
I could quit my job
that I have worked hard at and sit at home with her all day while acting like
we live in a plastic bubble. Boy, what a life that would be!
Or, I can take larger
steps, make louder noises, and work harder to ensure her constant safety when
she is at school or in the general public.
This past week we had
our first “episode” of the school year. My daughter was sitting behind someone
who decided to bring a nutty bar for snack into a “peanut free” school zone.
All the other child did was open the package. That set off my child’s allergic
reaction and before she even knew what had happened her skin looked like a
thousand mosquitoes had attacked her. Thankfully the students noticed and she
was able to get medicine in time.
The most important
question is…what can I do to be around when I am not?
Thankfully, Texas has
passed regulation that will allow the schools free EpiPens®. That’s a start! But
what about the ones who need them nearby at all times? Should I trust my eight
year old to be able to keep up with her medication at all times?
These are questions
and fears that constantly haunt and plague me. I can only hope that eventually
everyone will be on board to follow the rules outlined in schools and in other
areas. Until then, I will continue to be diligent in keeping a close watch over
my one and only.
