Food Allergies Can Be Fatal

By Yitzchok and Bina Lerman

I have watched my daughters struggle to breath. I stood by as they were wheeled into emergency rooms attached to oxygen masks and IV fluids. It doesn’t get easier; on the contrary, the fear deepens every time. At an early age my daughters were diagnosed with food allergies. Food allergies affect one in every thirteen children in the USA and the statistics are growing at an alarming rate.

The time has come to bring a greater awareness of this life threatening condition to our community.

An allergic reaction occurs when the body perceives a harmless protein as foreign and attacks it unnecessarily. A potentially fatal reaction is called anaphylaxis. When anaphylaxis occurs, a shot of epinephrine must be administered immediately and the patient must be taken to the hospital. Time is of essence.

Reactions are unpredictable; there is no way of knowing how bad a reaction will be. This past summer a thirteen year old girl in California with a peanut allergy bit into a rice crispy treat, unaware that there was peanut butter inside. She went into anaphylactic shock. Her father (a doctor) immediately gave her multiple Epi-Pens. Unfortunately they were unable to stop the reaction. Her parents watched helplessly as her airways closed up and she died.

There is no cure for food allergies; prevention is the only way to protect a child from getting a fatal reaction. Obviously, I read ingredients carefully and keep all allergens away from my children. There is however, the constant concern of cross contamination. My daughter ate a chocolate from a candy store. We then saw her rolling on the floor in distress. We also noticed that she was wheezing heavily. The chocolate had apparently come into contact with an allergen at some point and caused a severe reaction.

My daughters’ schools are constantly on alert. Both “All My Children” on Ford Street and at Mosdos have been very supportive and understanding. The directors, teachers and kitchen staff go out of their way to ensure that our children remain in a safe environment, while participating in all class activities. Mosdos went to the extent of making their school a “Nut Sensitive” environment (Ford Street is also “Nut Sensitive”).

I understand that this change may have been difficult for some teachers, students and parents. However even an innocent smudge of peanut butter on any surface, could potentially send my daughter into anaphylactic shock. I am thankful that they have taken measures to keep my daughters safe.

One sunny day I took my girls to a local park. My daughter made fast friends with some of the other children there. While they were playing, one of the mothers came over with a snack and gave some to each of the children, including my allergic daughter! I ran over quickly and discovered that thank G-D it was a safe snack. I thanked the mother for the snack while explaining that my daughter has severe food allergies and in future it would be advisable to ask parents before handing out snacks to little children.

My purpose in penning this article is to bring awareness to the community. Please don’t offer food to a child without asking the parent or caregiver first. Please don’t leave Bamba wrappers on the floor. If a child has a food allergy, take them seriously. If they say they don’t feel good, or their mouth feels funny, get medical help immediately!

There is an ancient proverb that “It takes a village to raise a child”. Today it takes a community to keep a child safe.