Can I ask the adults with PA a question(about bans)??

I asked an adult friend (40ish) this question, as well as a child therapist friend whose PA daughter is now in her 20's.
Both said they were isolated in their allergy because there weren't so many allergic kids at that time. So being alone in their allergy they didn't expect a ban because they were literally the ONLY child with this in their school. Also, the laws we have today did not apply then (504, etc) so there was no legal basis for a ban.
They also brought up that they had many reactions due to the lack of a labelling law, and lack of general awareness about FA (ie, many restaurants are now trained to deal with it; back then they were not).
But the common denominator was that they felt like they had many reactions that could have been prevented if there was greater awareness and understanding of severe FA like there is starting to be now.

Quote:Originally posted by chanda4:
[b]twokidsNJ...that was what I was wondering, did they feel alone, with little or no support? Did the school help in any way? What did they do whent hey played sports or joined clubs...or during class parties??? did they wish more was done or did they get along fine takeing care of things themselves....what would they do differently. I ask all his for some insight....I *want* to make the right decisions and I hope I am. But in reality, Jake won't be able to tell me until he's older...if I could get an idea now, it would be great!! Thanks again!
[/b]
Chanda, my impression is that you can't compare the times. Times have changed and the kids with allergies are no longer isolated on their own island with something only their own family understands.
We, rightfully, expect more now because there are more kids with severe food allergies, more laws to protect these children, more awareness.
I don't think your question is completely relevant, therefore. But they do feel like they had more reactions because of the lack of awareness and information (and probably not as immediate access to epipens either, as those laws were not in place either).

If the idea that times are different and awareness has been raised, one could still ask adults who grew up with PA how they felt about the choices that their parents did, or did not make, with respect to it for them as children? Did they feel as though they needed more support, more advocacy? Looking back at their time as a child, is there anything they wish their parents had done, taken more seriously, advocated about, expressed even to them as children (like their own feelings), etc.? Were there things their parents did, or did not do, that if they found themselves parents of a PA child they would do differently?
To me, as much as I would like to make it about people "out there" -- it is just as much about my children, our family, and the situation that is the first one. To address the child, their situation, their feelings, their needs, first and foremost, and what those might be as a PA child. That type of insight I think could be very important in helping to formulate what helps make life more manageable for them, rather than what we need to do to make it more manageable for us as parents, thinking we know without truly knowing from the child's perspective communicated by one that has grown into adulthood.
So, any adults that grew up PA out there that would like to jump in here?

I agree, I would love to gain some insight into the life of a food allergic child. Lately I've been considering finding a counselor who can help guide our family (gearing up to finally accept my daughter's multiple food allergies after 6 years of wishful thinking), but also help my daughter. I haven't a clue how this is ultimately affecting her, don't know what it must be like to live your life knowing that one bite of the wrong food could kill you. I had struggles as a kid, but nothing like this. I don't have particular questions to ask, but I'd really love to hear more from those who have lived this life.
Laura

I agree with TwokidsNJ--you just can't compare today with the way things were back when I was a kid. I knew that people could die from allergic reactions because I have relatives with anaphylaxis. But I didn't know that my typical severe reaction to soy, egg, nuts (throat/mouth itchiness + projectile vomiting) could have been serious. And concerns about cross contamination in the classroom didn't really occur to me (that having been said, I went home for lunch anyway through K-5. I sometimes ate lunch at school in grades 6-8.)
I don't recall feeling left out because I couldn't eat the same food as other kids, and I don't recall feeling "different" because of the food allergies. (Uncontrolled) asthma was much more of an issue because I couldn't run in gym class + I couldn't even skip rope for an extended period of time.
I only had one reaction in school that I recall. My best friend had offered me some Cracker Jack---I didn't realize that caramel corn had nuts in it, and I took some without reading the ingredients (my mom had told me never, never to share food, but you know how kids are). My mouth started itching right away, and I spit it out without swallowing. Thankfully the reaction didn't progress because it wouldn't have occurred to me to tell a teacher that I was having a reaction. (But I didn't even have a prescription for an anakit.)
As far as what I *think* should be done in the schools---I'm all for nut bans in the younger grades and when kids are contact/aerosol sensitive. When kids are older and aren't contact sensitive? That's a grey area. I think it depends on how many different allergies the school is dealing with--if they are only dealing with a nut allergy, then nut bans are more feasible.
My parents eventually stopped taking me out to eat in restaurants that didn't have ingredient listings after a number of bad experiences while travelling (boy, did the waiters/waitresses wish they had checked out the ingredients more carefully! I tended to throw up before I could make it to the bathroom). Ditto with eating at other peoples' houses---my grandparents' was an exception. There my parents just watched out for us like hawks under the pretense of 'helping' in the kitchen.
There was a time when my 'comfort zone' suddenly shifted (immediately after having a life threatening reaction) . . . and at that point I would have liked my parents to have been more outspoken about the cross contamination issues. But it took a long time to get my dad on board, and my mom is quieter and is shy about confronting people.

Quote:I only had one reaction in school that I recall. My best friend had offered me some Cracker Jack---I didn't realize that caramel corn had nuts in it, and I took some without reading the ingredients (my mom had told me never, never to share food, but you know how kids are). My mouth started itching right away, and I spit it out without swallowing. Thankfully the reaction didn't progress because it wouldn't have occurred to me to tell a teacher that I was having a reaction. (But I didn't even have a prescription for an anakit.)
[/B]
Cracker Jacks = Dangerous stuff for PA.
Chanda, maybe this is a good story to share with your principal who insists on Cracker Jacks as a reward.