Friday, August 10, 2012

The Marveling Continues

We're still reveling in Abigail's success.  She's taking daily doses of peanuts in the form of sweet treats.  At some point, I'll need to stock up on more practical and healthy options, but for now, I'm enjoying her discovery of recently forbidden treats.

Trader Joe's has some really good peanut butter cups made with real milk chocolate and real peanut butter.  She's loving those.  From a technical side, I had to cut one in half and scoop out the peanut filling to measure it.  For protection, she needs 1 and 1/2 peanuts (or approximately 1/4 teaspoon of peanut butter) on a daily basis.  The filling measures 1/2 teaspoon which is about 3 peanuts.  She's been eating 2 of the peanut butter cups a day.  I'd say she's more than protected.

The four of us, my husband, son, Abigail and myself, went out to dinner Wednesday night to celebrate.  Abigail got to choose the restaurant.  The kid's meal came with plain M & M's.  With absolute wonder on her face, she realized that she got to eat them.  At age 9, the girl has never had an M & M.  We had chosen for safety and simplicity sake to not approve any foods manufactured in facilities that also make peanut products.  That ruled out M & M's.  She, of course, loved them.  Reality struck me, and I realized that I would no longer have an easily accepted excuse for all those unnecessary and unhealthy cookies and other treats that come as part of so many kid's meals.  When asked what type of cookie the kids would like as part of their meal at places like Moe's, Subway and Jersey Mike's, I've been quick to say, "Sorry, they can't have them. We have a peanut allergy."

It hasn't taken her long to realize what this means.  She's skipped ahead to Halloween, and is almost giddy with excitement.  I typically trade a non-candy treat for some of their loot.  Looks like I'm going to have to up the ante to make a deal this year.

The marveling continues at our house.  It's still hard to even conceive sometimes what the success of this peanut allergy clinical trial means to our family.  And, while we are incredibly lucky, or better yet, blessed, we are also so very humbled and grateful.  Abigail is just one of a very few in the sublingual immunotherapy trial who had the opportunity to challenge and did so successfully.  Some made it to the 3 year mark, challenged, and were not able to make it through all doses.  Those children will continue in the study either eating peanuts or doing drops.  Most of the kids won't challenge at 3 years because of study protocol changes.  Those kids will continue another 2 years before they challenge to better ensure their success.  And, as a reader commented, they had to leave the study altogether because of health concerns.  Her comment serves as a reminder that there are risks involved.  So, yes, we are marveling.

12 comments:

Kylie said...

Hooray! That is so exciting! What a whole new world has opened up.

Lisa said...

SO exciting!

Mom with a Mission said...

Thanks Kylie & Lisa. It is very exciting!

Paul said...

congratulations to all of you. I know it was a family effort.
love U Paul

Elizabeth Bostic Art & The Painted Garden said...

So cool! My daughter has severe peanut and cashew allergies and others... I am glad that I found your blog. It gives me hope for her to be desensitized to her allergens in the future.
I am very happy for you all!

Anna said...

Hi! I've been following your page for a few months now. I am so happy for you and your daughter!!! We will be starting peanut oral immunotherapy with our son in a couple of months. We hope for the same life-changing results. :)

Mom with a Mission said...

@The Bostic Family - Welcome! Thanks for leaving a comment. So sorry to hear about your daughter. There is hope. :)

@Anna - Congratulations on the study. Hope all goes well for you and your son.

Blessings,
Melanie

Gratefulfoodie said...

Congratulations!!!!! A food allergy dream come true.

Unknown said...

My daughter has gone through a drops protocol at La Crosse. She challenged for peanuts last year, right before Halloween, and has been enjoying them ever since. Life changing is exactly how I would describe it. M&Ms were a big addition in our house too. She is still on drops for cashew and have a follow up before Christmas. It is a long journey. But so worth the wait.

Mom with a Mission said...

@Heather - I've not heard of the program at La Crosse. Will have to check it out. Sounds very similar to our study. Congrats to your family! Halloween this year was a completely different experience for us. Abigail sampled lots of new candy bars. Didn't like them, but did get to try them. :)

Good luck on the cashew desensitization.

Glenn and Natalie said...

Congratulations!I am so glad that I have come across your blog. I have a daughter (also named Abigail!) who has a sever peanut allergy. I look forward to reading your older posts. I have read a few & am excited to make an allergy tag for her purse that carries her epi-pens when we go out & to have her practice on an orange! Thanks for the great information & sharing your experiences!

Anonymous said...

premium chocolatiers is a great allergy friendly site, they just starting selling peaNOT butter cups. They taste AWESOME! I like them better than reese's! you should try them out for your daughter.