We have a peanut allergy in our home, we’ve had it for roughly four years. And for four years we have functioned with very little incident, but the ones we’ve had have been frightening. It all started when my now four year old was 18 months old. I felt quiet sure that since no one on either side of our family has any known food allergies, she would be fine eating a portion of my peanut butter Cliff bar. Almost immediately she had hives covering most of her body, I sprung to action. I called our Pediatrician who told us to get to the Hospital as quickly as possible and they would call to let them know we were coming. They instructed us to call 911 at any time we thought she wasn’t breathing.
I cannot explain the sheer terror, in that moment, watching my otherwise perfectly healthy child suffering so horribly. I did everything any other Mom would do. Swept the house for any peanut product I could find, bought a medical alert bracelet, 5 epi-pens, I called ahead to ensure that restaurants could produce non contaminated foods. I’ve worried about when she starts school. Our preschool has gone completely peanut free, and no one has missed it. I should add that I love peanuts, there has never been a peanut that I haven’t enjoyed. I miss peanuts.
Our public schools will not go peanut free, kids like peanut butter, it’s easy to prepare a pb&j. I understand that. But this isn’t an allergy like hay fever, or even a gluten allergy. It can be life threatening in some cases, and every exposure makes the allergy intensify. Most people do not know that a person with peanut allergies does not have to ingest peanuts, just having the oil touch them can cause a reaction. In some cases, severe cases, even air born particles can cause a reaction.
Peanut allergies are growing in our country for whatever reason, it is an unfortunate truth. And as a society we cower to so many ridiculous requests. We don’t acknowledge holidays as to not offend, we don’t say the Flag Salute because some people don’t like God. Little boy can join the Blue Birds, for heavens sake. But we can’t protect children from something that can cause so much harm, including death. There is decidedly something wrong with our society. I have read articles, of incidences of peanut free schools, having children bring peanut butter sandwiches with instructions (given by their parents) to smear it on the student with the allergy.
Last week my daughter was at Vacation Bible School, and the first day they served trail mix. Her teacher knew she had an allergy and that the mix included peanuts, so she removed Libby from the room, fed her a separate snack and made sure that the other children washed thoroughly before returning to the classroom. Three days later, in a room separate from where snack was served, my peanut found a peanut. It was just lying on the floor, and she picked it up, held it for 30 seconds before her teacher saw it and took it from her. And withing seconds was needing medical attention. I am so thankful that her teacher was so careful with my child, that she reacted so quickly. The Minister was horrified, and vowed that they would never serve peanuts again. The thing is, it was a pretty harmless snack, and they took precautions, and still accidents happen. And it usually is just an accidental exposure.
So if your a parent, a school official, any one with any pull over public schools I beg you to consider going peanut free. Kids who can enjoy peanut products can still enjoy them at their homes. But have some compassion for us Mom’s who send our little ones into the world, filled with worry over their safe keeping. Because on top of worrying that they will be safe, that they will have a good day, that they will make friends, we have to worry for their little lives.
