Griffin's Food Allergies
Posted on September 15th, 2008.This post is to update everyone on Griffin’s food allergies so that hopefully we can all work together to help keep him safe.
As many of you know we have known since Griffin was a baby that he is allergic to milk, eggs and peanuts. We were told when he was initially tested at 10 months old that he was only slightly allergic to the peanuts and that we would continue to monitor it as he got older. So a few weeks ago we went back to see his allergist for a follow-up visit and to re-test for his food allergies. The milk and the egg allergies most children start to outgrow as they get older so I was fully anticipating that these had gotten better. He hasn’t eaten any of these but it has been two years since he was tested so I was hopeful. So, today when his doctor called to go over the test results I was shocked with the results she gave me. His milk allergy has stayed at about the same level (not gotten any better) but his sensitivity to eggs has gotten much worse. This I can deal with because we are already used to avoiding these foods altogether. Then she told me that his peanut allergy is extremely high, in fact the highest level of sensitivity possible. And then (as if that wasn’t enough) she told me that he is also extremely allergic to tree nuts (basically all other nuts) and it is also at the highest level of sensitivity possible. Yikes!!
If you’ve never had to deal with a food allergy you might not understand why this is so scary. I know I didn’t understand before I had a child with food allergies. Well, there are many types of reactions that can occur but the worst would be anaphylaxis and death. The peanut and tree nut allergies are known to have the most severe reactions and cause the most number of deaths. The scary thing about tree nuts is that it is hidden in so many things that you would never even think of. Even lotions! And, you do not have to just ingest the food in order to have a severe reaction. Some people can just touch it and go into shock. I also just found out that people with asthma have a greater chance of a fatal reaction from peanuts or tree nuts. Griffin does have asthma as well! Most people never outgrow a peanut or tree nut allergy so this is something he will have to learn to deal with for life.
We are used to avoiding the milk, eggs and peanuts but will now have to add tree nuts to the list. We also haven’t been that careful in the past with the peanuts (he’s never had any but his brothers were eating peanut butter all the time. . . not anymore!) but will now be extra cautious. Please pray for us as we try to learn more about all the foods that could possibly contain these things that could be so harmful to him. I begin to get overwhelmed when I think of the life and death matter that this is if I make a mistake. Please pray that we will do our very best to protect him but that overall God will watch over him and protect him. Also, please pray that I will trust God to protect him and not become consumed with worry. Please pray that he will be safe when he is in the care of others and that the adults we entrust him with will take his allergies seriously and do everything in their power to protect him as well. Griffin is such a high-spirited, energetic, happy, loving little boy! Please pray that this will never steal even one tiny bit of joy from him!
Thanks for working together with us to help keep him safe. If you would like to learn more about his food allergies just google “peanut allergy” or “tree nut allergy” and a ton of helpful information will come up. And on a lighter note, I also found out that he is extremely allergic to dogs! So, I guess I won’t be getting my tiny toy poodle that I’ve been researching. Oh well, he’s worth the sacrifice! 
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Sweet Kelli! We’re in this thing together! I’m so thankful God is bigger than our burden, and we’ll just keep encouraging each other on the journey. Love you!
I am so sorry about this. I know that you will have lots of support from friends and family. That is a precious picture of Griffin!
The bath story is too funny…
Mary just forwarded me an email to view your blog…so I hope that is ok. We are praying for you…and I am here if you ever need support or a friend to talk to. Bailey’s allergies are still the same…allergic to dairy and nut(peanuts mainly, but the doctor has informed us to stay away from all nut due to the fact that most nuts are processed on the same machines). I was in the same boat as you when we tested just recently(we just had our 3 round of testing…in about 3 years…this round adding the skin testing after the blood work)…hoping for the best…but then so sad when the results came back with each still severe. I KNOW GOD IS IN CONTROL, but I have come to realize that that doesn’t mean we cannot be sad. I just try to give it all to GOD on a daily basis and we try to do everything in our power to protect and educate Bailey along this road..as well as try to educate those around us. We, too, have a “no dairy, no nut” zone at our home…which is challenging, but completely doable!!!
We are praying for Griffin…for a safe and healthy environment as he continues to grow and develop!!!
Hello,
Let me start by saying that your son is beautiful! I know what you are going through. My 19 month old son is allergic to soy,peanuts,eggs,wheat and dairy (anaphylactic to peanuts and eggs). Because of my son, I started a website http://www.spewdfree.com where I have recipes that are free of soy,peanuts,eggs,wheat and dairy. I thought you might be interested. I pray everyday that my son is safe and I will pray for your son and all of the children with food allergies!
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Hey, Kelli! Well, I am with you on the peanuts. We found out the hard way that Noah is allergic to peanuts. He has not been officially tested and maybe he should be, but I gave him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and within 5 minutes of eating it his eyes started watering, and his face started turning red and blotchy. We gave him some benedryl and that seemed to help, but later on that night he started coughing and wheezing. The next morning his ankles were swollen. The doctor prescribed an epipen and we now carry that everywhere that we go. We have to read the backs of food labels, etc. The doctor told us that the second time he has a reaction it is usually a lot worse. I know Noah’s is not as bad as Griffin’s, but I am right there with you as far as watching every little thing that he eats and making sure that wherever Noah goes (church, school, etc) that the teachers and staff are educated on it. So far, Noah does not seem to be bothered by being around people eating peanut butter or peanut products. It just seems to be if he ingests it. How did you know to get Griffin tested? My doctor didn’t seem to think it was necessary since he had a bad enough reaction to it the first time. I just wonder, like you, if it has gotten any better or if there is anything else that he might be allergic to that I don’t know about.