Someone posted about a new children’s food allergy and anaphylaxis book facebook on Leneille Moonand it caught my eye, so I immediately ordered a copy. The author, Patty’s Secret , a fellow food allergy mama, has no idea that I am writing about her book–until today that is! anaphylaxiswas darling, sweet and shared a story about Patty, who was trying to keep her life threatening food allergy and anaphylaxis a secret! You guessed it, by not sharing her needs and hoping to fly under the radar without anyone in her class learning of her disease she ended up in the center of an emergency! The concept is wonderful and the book’s illustrations were absolutely fun and interesting. Even though the epinephrine was given via a hypodermic needle and not an epinephrine auto-injector, I believe kids will get the right idea. I’m sure the legal aspect of receiving a blessing to use the image of an Auvi-Q® or EpiPen® would have been monumental so I understand. Bonus: a portion of the book sales will be donated Food Allergy Kids of Atlanta!
Inclusion and Sharing about food allergies and anaphylaxis
Inclusion seems to be the theme this year for my daughter and family. After managing anaphylaxis and anaphylaxis in my home for 13 years, one would think that inclusion would be easy and a no brainer by now. Not true. Needless to say, a new children’s book is appealing since I thoroughly believe that we must keep educating young children so that they can influence their parents. I know that sounds backwards, but after 13 years of experience there is one Universal law I know; if a child understands their friend’s needs they will simply skip eating that food so that they can play and have fun! Time after time, I watched parents insist on certain foods in their child’s lunch or during a party, only to watch the children not eat that food to protect their friend. Little children, I believe, are pure in heart and tackle in the world in simple terms: “if it will hurt my friend, then I won’t eat it” is the message I hear. I used this book to talk about how my 10-year-old daughter feels at the beginning of the school year when she needs to share about her life threatening allergies and asthma.
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..