When Your Child Has Severe Reactions

We found out Chloe had a severe peanut allergy when she was two. I gave her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and she broke out in hives. And a couple weeks later, we took her to the allergist. And they did the skin test, and confirmed that she had a severe peanut allergy.

So mostly, when we first learned, it was a little bit shock and disbelief, just because we had set our minds on how things were going to be. And we had to get used to how things were going to be moving forward.

Well, I think it became a matter of how can we be prepared? So it was about research. It was about always making sure to check every label, to learn a different routine. That really helped, and just became a normal, natural part of life.

Chloe's treatment is epinephrine. If she was ever to have a reaction, we would inject in her outer thigh. She does not administer it. But I have trained her on how to, so that when she gets older, she'll be prepared.

Right now, we're doing oral immunotherapy treatment, where she takes a little bit of peanut over a long period of time to desensitize her. Chloe's really doing great with that. So we have a lot of hope.

At our school, we have put together an action plan with the administration and the teacher. Anyone who is responsible for Chloe knows how to use the epinephrine, knows reactions, what to look for, knows how to read the ingredients, and knows exactly what to do.

Chloe has a safe treat box in her classroom. So if the teacher is ever unsure of a product, or if it is not safe in the classroom, it's full of safe goodies that Chloe can pick out whatever she wants. She also knows that if, for some reason, a friend wants to give her a piece of candy, something that she can't have, when she gets home, Mommy is going to make her something even better. Or we'll get something from the store.

Or I just don't take the piece of candy or whatever it is that my friend gives me.

The most important advice I could give another parent is to always have the epinephrine with them, to make sure your child is included in everything they can be included in, and to make sure that your child is an advocate for themselves. It's really become such a great thing for her, because she has become so strong and incredible.