Comments on: The Vancouver Aquarium and Our Peanut Dilemma

By: Jen Olenewa

Jen Olenewa — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 01:08:44 +0000

Jen,
I don’t think you’re being unreasonable to want kid-friendly places to be safe for your children too. We no longer allow people to smoke in enclosed public spaces because we recognize the risks of second hand smoke. It seems that a peanut allergy is a similar risk, since just the proximity to the other family’s sandwiches caused a reaction in your daughter.
I would hope that anyone who felt imposed upon by this request, would read your well written blog. All public schools in Ontario (where I reside) are now peanut free but I think we forget about all the other public spaces. I will certainly think twice before taking peanut butter outside of my house again. Thank you for helping me remember to protect all the children that I can.
All the best,
Jen

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:45:05 +0000

Thanks for your comments Stacy. School has been a particularly scary subject for us since one of the twins is so sensitive. We are lucky enough tonhave found a school that has a nut free policy that as a result has many other children enrolled with the same allergies. While the public school system seems to fail us in this regard (in BC, anyways), this particular private school is our saving grace. It is son hard to strike a balance between wrapping them in bubble wrap and letting them be kids! The ignorance we have encountered, even from some family members, is difficult to understand. This is life or death and it is up to us to protect and adocate for our kids while they are too young to do so for themselves.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:32:01 +0000

Hi Jen,
I was checking out different blogs and sites regarding peanut allergies and found your stories about your girls. My son (who is almost 7) has been diagnosed since he was 3 with anaphylaxis to peanuts. I hate calling it an allergy, because it is so much more than that.
We found out my son had this allergy when we gave him a peanut butter sandwich and he had one bite (we didn’t know at the time) and he had a severe reaction (vomitting, hives, lethargy). Benedryl was enough to take care of it at home as we were advised by HealthLink (an Alberta Hospital phone program). Just three weeks ago we had our second episode that landed him in the hospital and then medication for a week at home. That was at school in grade 1.
He has anaphylaxis to peanuts, nuts (and with it legumes like green peas). Soy protein is also another one that comes hand in hand with it. He was also diagnosed with mild asthma and eczema (which are part of the deal as well, I’m told).
It’s hard not to get angry when people feel like this is just an allergy or the kid just being fussy about food. It is life-threatening.
I appreciate you sharing your stories because it made me feel better knowing I’m not the only mom who struggles with the wanting to wrap him in bubble wrap or letting him to go school, birthday parties, etc. He has learned the hard way this month how life-threatening this really is.
Sincerely,
Stacy