Food Allergic Kids Just Want to be One of the Gang
I was delighted to be interviewed for the
Here is a link to the article.
Here’s more from the article:
Her book, "One of the Gang," published in September of 2008, pictures Wood, director of pediatric immunology at Johns Hopkins, among the many accomplished individuals--from hockey players to beauty queens--living with food allergies.
… Clowes selected for her book a photographer whose own child had allergies and, as models, children with allergies and their siblings and friends. "I wanted real people in real situations," says Clowes. "The only books I could find for Daniel when he was very young featured cartoon animals with allergies. When he asked, after one, if elephants really do have peanut allergies, I realized that a better story for this literal age group would feature children just like them."
I’ve already had several food allergy moms write to me to ask about Dr Robert Wood with questions.
Yes, he is my son’s allergist and yes I would recommend him for the reasons mentioned in the article and many more.
If you’d like to hear more from Dr Wood, I highly recommend his book Food Allergies for Dummies.
One important note: I am not a co-founder of the Food Allergy Project. Denise Bunning who is a co-founder was kind enough to review my book and is quoted on the back cover.
November 30, 2008 @ 8:42 am
Thank you for sharing the link to your Johns Hopkins interview. I am looking forward to reading your book!
December 8, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
BOO HOO! Are you kidding with this stuff????
You actually wrote a book about kids who cant eat a peanut butter sandwich and you expect us to feel sorry for your kids!!!
No wonder moms like you are demanding peanut free everything. Soon it will be illegal to eat anywhere.
Teach your kids to learn to deal with life’s real problems and until then, GET OVER IT!
December 8, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
Hi T.S.
I might have felt like you do but it really is very different once you have a child with severe food allergies and if you have a child with multiple food allergies, it is many times harder.
The point of the book is not to “feel sorry” for the children but they do feel sad when they are excluded.
Obviously there are many types of disabilities in the world. There are easier things to live with and there are harder things to live with, but every persons experience is valid.
December 8, 2008 @ 7:54 pm
Gina, I can’t wait for my son to read your book. He is almost seven years old and has just recently started to express his feelings of being left out and feeling different when other kids laugh when he can’t eat something or when he does not participate in science experiments that use foods he is allergic to - like a recent one using eggs. Thank you for offering a book about real kids. The elephant, etc. books that we have found in the past were wonderful for him as a preschooler but your book will be great for him at this age.
I also applaud you in your recent response to a negative message from T.S. I don’t know if I could have been as tactful as you were in addressing his mean spirited remark.
Thank you for being an advocate for children like yours and mine. Sincerely, Michelle T.
December 8, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
…..I ordered 2 books! Thank you!
December 13, 2008 @ 1:24 pm
I read your book last night before reading it with my 6 yr old son who has multiple allergies. I was surprised when the book said “it’s not your fault”. I was thinking why would a child even think that, but as I was preparing dinner my son came in and was sitting at the counter watching me prepare us all the same meal but leaving the cheese off of his. He asked if his younger brother was going to get cheese on his. So we started to talk about food allergies and how it made him feel and then I asked him whose fault it was. I could see he was holding back tears when he said “It’s my fault. and it’s my fault that you always have to do all of this extra work to make extra things for me….” As he went on I was shocked and heart broken. I thought that I knew how he felt and we are always very open and talk often about his allergies…but it never occurred to me that he felt like it was his fault or that he felt guilty for something. Of course I reassured him that none of this was true and we had a good talk. Then at bed time we pulled out your book. It reinforced our talk and he was very excited to see the football star (so was my husband) because they love football. Anyways Gina…Thank you - not only for the book that made my son happy but for helping me to uncover some feelings that I was unaware my son was going through. From the bottom of my heart - THANK YOU! Michelle T
December 13, 2008 @ 9:19 pm
Hi Michelle,
Thank YOU!
I so appreciate what you wrote.
Full disclosure. My sister is a child therapist so she explained to me early on that when things happen to little kids (divorce, illness, adoption etc) they often feel that they’ve caused it.
My son also asked me very often: Why? So I wanted to explalin that although we dont know why, we do know that it is not their fault.
I also had some expert help in editing from an excellent professor of child development.
We all know how much we like to talk about “this” It feels better to talk about it, let it out and then move on (let it go)
So I’m so glad that your son was able to express his feelings and you were able to explain things to him.
Thank you for letting me know.
December 15, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
The so-called epidemic of food allergies has been proven to be exaggerated.
Parents like you do no favors to your kids by scaring them and then insisting that the rest of the world changes for one or two kids with a peanut allergy.
It’s not fair and there is no need for it.
Get a life!
December 15, 2008 @ 11:44 pm
Gina,
Can’t wait to read your book. As a mom with two severely food allergic kiddos, this issue colors every area of our lives. It sure does change your perspective when you recognize that someone else’s lack of awareness can cost your child their life. The dangers are real…the stats are readily available. We do try to make the best of it, ensuring their safety yet making efforts to be reasonable. Thanks for all you do for these children and families. You are a friend!
December 15, 2008 @ 11:51 pm
Gina,
We ordered your book from amazon and can’t wait to read it. It sounds exactly like what we need for our two kids with life threatening food allergies…and hopefully will work well for peer education as well.
The fact is, children have died in schools from life threatening food alleriges. These children do need the support of their friends and communities.
Thank you!!
December 16, 2008 @ 12:11 am
What’s not fair is a child who cannot stay in his classroom to get an education like the rest of his/her class. Put yourself in a child’s place, and imagine having to be removed from what should be a safe learning environment, because this child has had countless trips to a nurse, or to an emergency room from anaphylaxis. But the school systems are afraid to try and make it safe in the classroom because of those adults who feel that school is about food, not education. Now put yourself in this child’s parents position. Your child gets very ill, swollen tongue and throat, horrible pain, his/her eyes swell completely shut, and worst of all, complete shut down of their bodies ability to fight off this life threatening exposure. And in addition to watching your child suffer, you come across individuals who do not know what this does to these children and adults that suffer from severe food allergies, or just simply do not care. These individuals look to fight against precautionary measures. However, I am positive that if it were them, their child, their loved one, and they have experienced for themselves the danger, the risk, the fear, and the frustration, opinions would change.
Fortunately, there are many parents out there that do care. They will stand and fight along side of you, as they would hope if it were their child. When you take your child to school in the morning, you should not have to worry about their safety. But with approaches such as previous stated, many school systems are afraid to act in the best interest of the children. Which, essentially is best for all of the children. School is about getting an education, not about being able to have peanut butter or ice cream in the classroom. And if a child cannot receive an education, because their days are spent in a nurse’s office or an emergency room, how is this standard fair? Each child has the right to the same education as the child next to him or down the hall.
It is sad that people would attack these children and their parents. This is a daily struggle, one that takes amazing effort from dusk till dawn. We all want what is best for our children. We all want our children to be safe. We all want our children to have everything that is humanly possible to provide for them. We also want them to live the best life they can, and hopefully be strong enough to disregard the lack of knowledge that exists and words spoken from those who have failed to educate themselves.
December 16, 2008 @ 3:04 am
WOW, FIRST OF ALL I KNEW THERE WERE CRAZY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD BUT SOME OF THE POST I JUST READ MADE MY BLOOD BOIL. HOPEFULLY THE UNEDUCATED & THOUGHTLESS PEOPLE WHO POSTED THINGS LIKE BOO HOO WILL READ THIS…… HERE IS THE REALITY… I AM KENDALL’S MOM. KENDALL IS ALLERGIC TO 95 % OF ALL FOOD .KENDALL IS THE ISI WORLD CHAMPION FIGURE SKATER IN THE BOOK. KENDALL ALSO JUST LAST WEEK WENT INTO ANAPHYLAXIS IN A HOSPITAL SETTING AND HAD TO HAVE HER DR INJECT LIFE SAVING EPINEPHERINE INTO HER BECAUSE HER THROAT WAS SWELLING SHUT. AS HER MOM I HAVE ALWAYS TAUGHT HER THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO HAVE IT MUCH WORSE THAN SHE DOES. SHE HAS NEVER BEEN ALLOWED TO FEEL SORRY FOR HERSELF. I GUESS NOW I SHOULD TEACH HER ABOUT IDIOITS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TO SELFISH TO LOOK PAST THEMSELF TO CARE ABOUT ANYONE ELSE LIKE YOU. “GET A LIFE” U SAY…. PARENTS OF CHILDREN W/ SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES FIGHT EACH DAY TO KEEP THERE CHILD SAFE AND SAVE THEIR LIFE. I WILL PRAY FOR YOU .
December 16, 2008 @ 3:11 am
Gina,
I have not bought your book yet but I am looking forward to reading it.
My son has just been signed and is training to be an actor, model, etc. He is 3 years old and I am trying to figure out how to handle the issue of his allergies. He is allergic to all 8 of the most common food allergens. The frustrating part is one of the first commercials he is supposed to memorize is a ’skippy peanut butter’ commercial. I have explained to the school where he is training that he has food allergies. I do not want him to feel different than the other kids, I want him to fit in and not be singled out but am not sure what to do. It is really hard to help him memorize a commercial and say “I love skippy peanut butter” when he knows that he can’t eat it because it could make him”sick”.
Most auditions require a pre-memorized commercial and he is allergic to all the choices we were given. When I work with him and coach him to say “I love skippy peanut butter”, he comes back with “No, I don’t. It would make me sick.” This thrills me that he knows what he is allergic to but makes it challenging when it comes to acting. This is all still pretty new, I don’t want to confuse him but I don’t want him to miss out on any opportunities just because he has food allergies.
Does anyone have any suggestions? His next audition is January 24 and he is supposed to have the ’skippy peanut butter’ commercial memorized by then.
Tracy
Thank you Shelley, for saying what so many of us reading these comments were thinking.
December 16, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
Last I checked, it’s NOT OUR CHOICE to have children with severe food allergies. My sister bought me a shirt that is priceless “Ignorance is a curable disease”. Her son has Type I diabetes and my son has multiple food severe food allergies. When will people understand that we DO teach our children, we don’t shelter them. However, a little help, a little compassion is all that is needed to make sure ALL children are as safe as possible. I’m sure if TS and MB had a child that was confined to a wheelchair they would be upset if facilities did not have wheelchair accessibility for their child. Sorry - can’t go to the movies b/c we can’t get your wheelchair in to the building. All they would ask for was a simple ramp so that their child could enjoy the same things as all the other children. Obviously they have never learned the lesson of “don’t judge another person until you walk a day in their shoes”. The sad thing is, their ignorance will most likely be passed on to their children as well. I’m grateful for the support of my friends/family and I’m so thankful that my 5 year old son has such a great group of friends that support him!
December 22, 2008 @ 10:17 am
[…] I’m really so grateful at some of the reviews on Amazon.com, the emails I’ve received and the comments here on the blog (well, some of them) and amazon.com etc. […]
January 10, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
Just to clarify,
the book has nothing to do with bans. It does not address this issue at all.
We do include pictures that show how much allergic kids appreciate it, when they’re able to share the same treats as others (”It feels so good to be one of the gang) but no where in the book does it say or even suggest anything having to do with banning foods. I’m not sure where that came from.
January 12, 2009 @ 11:28 am
I am deeply saddened that some of the posts in response to book were attacks on other people. The reason somone would purposefully log onto this site and write aweful comments is not because they truly have anything meaningful to say, but to enrage other people. That’s how they have their fun and they do not care about other people. As parents of children we are responsible for their well being. But I also believe in caring for my neighbors, friends, and new people I meet everyday. It is called having compassion. I regret other people have hate in their hearts, which leads to such selfishness. Thank you for the book and I know my allergic child will benefit from the likes of Gina.
Catherine
January 12, 2009 @ 11:48 am
I am so thankful for this book and I honestly feel that for each person that learns about food allergies, my kids are a little bit safer.
I want everyone to know that kids with food allergies have a confirmed medical condition that is incurable and life-threatening. It is not a matter of food choice. Please understand that as a parents of food-allergic children, we do not want our children to receive anyone’s sympathy. We just want our kids to come home alive each day we send them to school - which is really what it comes down to. Please just have enough compassion for children and realize that although they look healthy, every minute of every day their lives are at risk. One could argue that food allergies are more deadly than poision - if my child eats the slightest amount of peanut within minutes he would be unconscious on the floor unable to breathe. Arsenic poisioning, for example, has a recomended treatment time of twelve hours and is not always fatal. But, peanut products are in nearly every room in which my son must spend his days at school.
I cannot describe the feeling of not being able to promise my son that I can always keep him safe. Because once he goes to school, his life is quite honestly in the hands of everyone there.
How do you explain to a three year old that some foods can kill him without scaring his socks off?
To everyone with hateful comments - try doing as little as five or ten minutes of research before you show off your ignorance. Meanwhile, I’m going to pray for your family to remain healthy. I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone - EVER! It goes beyond simply not eating peanuts. Dealing with food allergies requires a complete lifestyle change for everyone in the household - FOREVER!
January 12, 2009 @ 2:29 pm
You know, I cannot stand people who complain about their child going to a nut free school. Ohh BOO HOO YOUR CHILD CANT HAVE PEANUT BUTTER BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9-3 EVERYDAY! Cry ME a river! My child can’t heave peanut products EVER! And every item of food that goes into her mouth must be monitored. I say it all the time, if your child goes without peanut butter while in school nothing happens to him, but if my F.A. daughter comes in contact with a peanut it could be a fatal experience. Putting my four year old around peanut products is like giving her a book of matches or a gun…would you give your child a gun to play with? I didn’t think so….just another comment by an ignorant, uneducated “know it all.” Try walking in the shoes of someone who has severe food allergies and then come talk to me about how sad it is that non FA kids can’t have PBnJ at lunch.
January 13, 2009 @ 2:07 pm
I can’t believe the ignorance in people. Even before my son came along, I have two older daughters, I still would have never made any comments like the ones above. I bet if any of them had a child with food allergies they would be the worst to deal with.
My son was diagnosed with severe food allergies at 6 months old. He had continual health issues and my peditrician was smart enough to send him to an allergist who immediately tested him for a milk and soy allergy. We found out that he was allergic to Peanuts, Egg, Milk, Soy and Wheat. Was it his fault he was allergic to these foods…NO.
I have been fortunate to have loving and caring parents, classmates and teachers. My son is in first grade and has had unbelievable support throughout pre-school and now in his new school. Not only do the teachers and parents look-out for him, but his classmates are awesome. It is good to know that these children have been raised by parents who are not ignorant like some of the people who commented on this page.
Thank you for writing a book to help parents and children with food allergies. And to the person who stated that these food allergies are exaggerated…You are wrong!! The Peanut allergy has gone up drastically in the last five years - look up your information.
January 21, 2009 @ 12:29 am
Why are the negative posters coming to this website in the first place? If they don’t care about the issues of living with food allergies and special needs children, why read this book or blog on this website? I assume they have nothing better to do then jump from website to website and spread their hatred, and bully people. Note to the negative bullies: Try this in your spare time. Remove all dairy products, wheat products, peanut products, seafood products, and food that contain these foods from your home, and avoid them while you’re out of your home for just one week. And I bet you’d have more understanding about how difficult life can be when you just can’t “eat on the go” and you run into food everywhere. Or just try going a week saying only positive, kind things to people. Betcha can’t do either for more then a day. There are plenty of “hate” websites out there…this is not one of them, please don’t post here again.