ESSAY FROM A FOOD ALLERGIC TEENAGER

I ran accross this on a food allergy support group board. I cried most of the way through it but mostly just comming to the realization that someday (sooner than I would like) my kids are going to be making these very important decisions on their own. I just love them so much and would like to believe that they are going to always let me control their diet the way I do now and that accidents will never happen. I know this isn't true . . .Please pray for my husband and I as to how and when to teach our children to keep themselves safe.



ESSAY FROM A FOOD ALLERGIC TEENAGER

July 4th is the day that we traditionally celebrate our freedom and independence. For my family and me, this was the day that we realized the severity of my food allergies. On July 4th 1989, at the age of 2, I innocently stood on a stool watching my grandmother scramble eggs. Within a few minutes I was covered in hives from head to toe, my eyes closed shut and I was gasping for air. Since we were visiting Long Beach Island, N.J., an ambulance had to come from the main land and rush my family and me to the nearest hospital. I was given a shot of adrenaline on route and my parents nervously waited at the hospital for many hours until I was stable and able to leave. Since I have no recollection of this event, I can only imagine how terrifying this was for my parents. Thus began a journey that we would experience together, but in the end would ultimately be mine alone.

It was not long after leaving Long Beach Island that I found myself in Dr. William Davis' office at Columbia Pres. Hospital in New York City. It was there that we learned the full extent of my food allergies, which includes eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish (lobster and shrimp being the most serious). At a young age, it was easy for my mother to monitor what I could and could not eat. She would be the one constantly checking the labels of food and packing me with safe snacks. I was known for my plastic baggies filled with teddy grahams and mallomars, and I was the only child in the entire school who brought their lunch each day. But instead of feeling isolated or different, my friends and teachers were supportive and curious to learn more about my food allergies. Every morning in primary school, when my gym teacher would take me out of the car she would always ask me what I had for lunch that day. My lunch menu did not vary much; it consisted of turkey, Gatorade, Jell-O and Vienna Fingers cookies. My friends thought it was great that I had "cool" lunch boxes and could choose what I wanted to eat each day. At my closest friends' homes, safe snacks were kept for me to enjoy during a play date. My friends often loved telling their parents about my food allergies. They'd say "Oh Mom, make sure that you serve something that is safe for Brooke." If anything my allergies were making me stand out in a good way. I know my parents worried about me (they still do), but I had to make safe food choices on my own. My parents made sure I lived by the mantra "when in doubt, do without." They insisted that I wear my MedicAlert bracelet, carry a safe snack and have Benadryl and an EpiPen with me at all times.

Generally I ran into very few food issues, but unfortunately there were some surprises that took place. One of the first incidents that occurred was when I was 7 or 8 and I ordered a hamburger that had been made with eggs. We did not think to ask what was in it, since eggs in a hamburger is rather unusual. But this taught that me that you have to ask questions no matter how plain the food is and no matter how many times you have previously eaten it. I was extremely nauseous after one bite, but I learned a valuable lesson that you can never be too careful. Unfortunately there were other incidents that I stumbled upon. At a pizza restaurant we specifically asked the waiter if there were eggs in the pizza dough and he assured us that there were not. After one bite I was nauseous and vomiting, and luckily eggs are not the most serious of my food allergies.

Most kids love birthday cake, doughnuts and brownies, but I was the one who was never able to try those foods. In 4th grade I wrote a story entitled What Does a Brownie Taste Like? I won an award for the story and my mom till this day tells me that it broke her heart to read the essay. Since then my mom has made it her mission to create more home made baked goods for me. Together we found an egg-free cookbook, which enhanced my love of baking and enabled me to try many new muffins, breads and cakes. In recent years I sought the help of a nutritionist to provide an even greater variety of foods. Because of my expanding menu, I am able to vary my food choices when I travel and dine.

With age comes responsibility and I had to learn at an early age that it was imperative for me to be my own advocate. My "independence" began when I was 8 years old, when I attended an 8-week sleep away camp in the Berkshires for the first time. There I lived and ate without the help of my parents for 8 summers. The sleep away camp was informed about my life threatening food allergies and always had a plethora of food options for me. I had a chef who was sensitive to my needs and who always had separate food for me to eat. I was able to give the camp a list of the foods I enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. I was the only camper who was able to walk up to the food counter and ask for whatever I wanted. (My allergies also enabled me to eat tasty food instead of the sometimes' nasty food the other campers had to eat). When I was a younger camper, it was quite intimidating to walk up to the counter where all the other counselors were. I was often told that I had to sit back down because "no campers were allowed," but I knew that I had to be my own advocate and tell the other counselors that I had food allergies, and I had to have special food.

Following my summers at sleep away camp, I traveled to Hawaii, London, and Paris during school vacations and went on a 4-week cross-country summer trip all without my parents. I was able to dine just like anyone else, though I did come prepared with bagged pasta in case of a food emergency. It was at this time that I designed a "safe-foods" allergy card. This hot pink card (the size of a normal business card), boldly listed all of my food allergies and stated that my allergies were life threatening. It was very empowering for me to create this card. If I even felt a waiter did not understand the severity of my food allergies, I knew I could not afford a mistake, so I would ask to speak to a manager or a chef. More often than not, I have found that waiters and chefs not only let me know what I can and cannot eat, but they often also take extra care when preparing my food.

At the age of 16, dining, traveling and dating have become regular activities without my parents. So when I entered high school it was critical that all my friends understand the severity of my food allergies. My closest girl friends all know how to use my Epi-Pen if necessary and spot allergic reactions. In terms of dating, I have to somehow let the boy know about my allergies and tell him that eating at a Japanese, Chinese or seafood restaurant is not the ideal place for a date. To avoid an awkward first date I try my best to choose a restaurant where I have previously eaten. But probably the most uncomfortable topic I have to bring up on a date is that kissing cannot occur if he has eaten any kind of nut or fish. I bring this topic up nonchalantly and the conversation usually turns out to be funny instead of embarrassing. So far it has not been an issue.

I must say that it was because my parents let me be independent that I never let my food allergies hold me back. My parents helped me find my voice, gave me the strength to be my own advocate, and to live by the mantra "when in doubt do without." I was encouraged at an early age to be an active participant and to experience life to the fullest. In addition to my academics, I play 2 varsity sports at school, am actively involved in student government, mock trial, key club and community services. I have always considered myself a people person- outgoing, enthusiastic and friendly. And it has always been important to me to inform and educate people about the severity of food allergies. I have always enjoyed meeting with children and their parents to share my personal experiences about living with food allergies. I believe that children are at a disadvantage if their parents prevent them from doing normal "kid stuff' such as attending birthday parties, having play dates, and experiencing life away from home. My food allergies are only one part of me; they have never and will never control my life.

Brooke Jacobsen
Age 16
March 16, 2004