This is Zac’s freshman year at Gonzaga University and his classmates created a short documentary about Zac, his faith and life with severe life threatening food allergies. I’ve known Zac for many years and am very proud of him. This documentary does not show you the incredibly hard path he has been on over the years as his anaphylaxis to peanut allergies grew more volatile. He has experienced the ugly side of adults (not children I must point out) not understanding this invisible disease who treated him unfairly and poorly, yet he continues to advocate for himself the other children coming up behind him. I admit to not truly believing his health would allow him to attend college away from home, but his attitude and faith was strong, so of course he would!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Q6bNW4nCg]
I also want to add what has touched me about Zac’s journey is the support from his family and how together, they embrace his anaphylaxis and enjoy life together. Also, I’m inspired by total strangers like Jodie, founder of Team Anaphylaxis (I will blog about them very soon), who lives near Gonzoga and is ready to support Zac with any issue that might arise, she has never met him face to face but he carries her cell phone number, knowing she is just a call away. Jodie is ready 24/7 to take his call, as if he is her son to make sure he is safe. Our food allergy community is pretty darn amazing.
Zac, I’ve always thought you were special and on a mission and clearly you continue to push forward to wonderful mentor to our younger children! I can’t wait to celebrate the end of your first year of college. Meet us at Grimaldi’s?
p.s. Please share this video…let’s take Zac viral!
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!..
I am going to share on FB! So well done and heartfelt. I want to meet at Grimaldi’s too! Would so love Maia to meet Zac. I would love to ask him about school here in Reno (middle and high school) in regard to his experiences there with his allergy. Thx for posting Caroline!!!! He is one amazing person.
Kelly I will set it up! He us a great mentor!!
Thank you Caroline! Did u post this video on FB? I can share easily from there. I hope it goes viral!!
Kelly, I posted my blog link, but I will post the video too…..watch for it!
Great job Zac! A very well done documentary. Thank you!
That was amazing! For some of us with younger kids, we can’t imagine our kids growing up and being ready or able to leave the house and take care of themselves. It’s seeing things like this, that can bring us peace of mind that, if we do it right, our kids could grow up to be like Zac. I’m so proud of him for finding his own path in life and advocating for himself and others.
Aggie,
What I think is impressive that he has experienced a long brutal road and yet, there he is … doing normal college kid stuff. I really am in awe of how he takes care of himself and then wants to help the kids coming up behind him.
What an amazing young man. I follow another blog of a young woman with a severe peanut allergy trying to make it through college as well.
Kathryn,
Can you share that blog link? I would love to see it!
Me three!
Yay Viral!! I’m off to post it directly onto my facebook too!
Thank you for sharing. It is encouraging to see Zach’s accomplishments and the role of his faith in dealing with food allergies as I think about what my 6-year-old may have in store in the future. Love, tears and thankfulness. And yes, this is going on my Facebook page — just in time for Food Allergy Awareness Week!