My daughter, Carlese, who is now 8 years old was born with severe food allergies.
Many people ask me how we found out about her allergies. I don't know if they are just being polite or do they really want to know. I guess most people want to know. But there are those skeptics who think that you are going overboard in the extreme caution of your child.
Reading every ingredient and washing their hands and yours constantly before touching any foods they might eat, as well as having anyone who comes in contact with my child wash their hands. Yes, this could appear a bit extreme to some.
But, those people have never witnessed an anaphylactic episode. When you have seen your child react to an allergen with your own eyes it becomes very clear how serious food allergies are. When you witness swelling of the lips, or wheezing and gasping for air as their throat is closing you begin to understand what the term "life-threatening" really means.
As a mother of a child with food allergies and asthma, I have stopped worrying about what other people think. The only thing that matters to me, is that I do everything I can do in my power to keep my child safe. Safe from any foods that may harm her. At times that may mean offending some people. But I don't really care. My goal is not to be liked as much as it is to protect my daughter's life to the best of my ability.
Debra Denhart
