Having a severely peanut/nut allergic son, I am always seeking ways to offer him the best that life has to offer while being conscious of our limitations. I remember the emotions that overwhelmed me when we first learned of his allergy. Would my son be robbed of normal life experiences like going to parties, visiting amusement parks, taking vacations, eating out? The list was never ending. With a husband that works long hours, our family looks forward to our weekend outings and vacation times to reconnect. I truly believed that our son's ability to travel would be forever changed. Would we be able to fly with peace of mind again? Would we be able to stay at an all-inclusive resort where kitchenettes are few and far between? Would we be able to dine at a restaurant at all, let alone in another country? Over the years, taking baby steps along the way, we have conquered these challenges by creating solutions that offer us the freedom to live life to the fullest.
It's not until you walk in these shoes that you truly understand the impact that dietary restrictions have on one's life. As I broaden my scope of understanding into the world of food intolerance, I realize that these issues extend beyond those that have anaphylactic allergies. I am thankful that my son has only one category of foods to watch out for, there are those dealing with multiple food allergies/intolerances. I think back to a time when my husband was terribly ill and there were no medical explanations as to why. He was forced to endure nausea every time he ate which eventually caused him to avoid food altogether. He was losing weight at a remarkable rate, yet his medical tests failed to render a diagnosis. In desperation, we turned to a strict meal plan that would eliminate all processed foods, refined sugars and wheat from his diet while incorporating specific nutritional supplements to realign the balance in his digestive system. As I reflect on that experience, it was the precursor to what was to later come with my son's allergy. I guess you could say I was being mentally trained to cope with food limitations on what may be seen as a non-life threatening level. Funny thing is, unless you are carrying around an epi-pen, food intolerances are not always given credence. The fact is, adverse reactions to one's food supply is always problematic, sometimes it is just a slower death, and not always of the physical kind.
