A Parent’s Worst Nightmare
Last weekend we were celebrating my adorable little nephew’s one month party. A one month party is a Chinese tradition where the family meets the newborn for the first time and they celebrate with food, drinks and a special soup that’s meant to help the new mom. (The soup has chicken, chicken broth, black fungus, ginger root, peanuts and walnuts).
Baby H is very curious and always wants to try everything, so we gave some soup. While Baby H was eating the soup I noticed that his face was developing a rash. I asked him if he was okay and he replied “yes” and kept eating his soup so I simply thought his eczema was flaring. The next thing we knew his face and throat were covered in hives; he was having an allergic reaction.
Someone at the party suggested we try Benedryl to stop the advancement of the symptoms. Baby H was now covered in hives, had swollen lips and was scratching and pulling at his throat. My heart sank. Benedryl significantly decreased some of the symptoms and gave us some time to pack our things and get to the hospital.
I was so flustered I couldn’t remember the road to the hospital and it seemed as though we hit every single red light. My mom was doing everything in her power to keep me calm and Baby H comfortable in the back seat. All I can say is thank heaven for moms!
My husband was already waiting for us as we rushed into CHEO to get admitted. As the nurse greeted us, Baby H began to vomit. We were in the waiting room for forty-five minutes, which we were later told that was an unacceptable wait time for a young child having an allergic reaction. I will say that the staff and doctor at CHEO are amazing and did everything in their power to make us more comfortable in this stressful situation.
The doctor came in and started explaining how antiphilactic shock works and its different stages. Baby H had a pretty severe reaction. The doctor said that he would refer us to an allergist and that Baby H would need an epi-pen. I was distraught by the thought that an epi-pen would become a part of our lives if Baby H has indeed developed any severe type of allergy. I didn’t really think allergies was the problem initially as Baby H hadn’t had problems in the past with peanuts or almonds.
Baby H got sick a couple of more times and after a four hour observation period we were finally discharged. After we got home and gave Baby H a bath to make him feel better. I picked Baby H up and held him as tight as I could and told him how much his Mommy and Daddy loved him and that we would never let anything ever happen to him again and that he was the bravest little boy we knew.
This has been the toughest thing my Husband and I had to face as parents, and it breaks our hearts to see someone so little go through this. Currently we are waiting for a specialist to call and schedule us in for an allergy testing appointment. I’m hoping whatever it was Baby H had a reaction to, it doesn’t end up being a life long allergy.
I was very lucky to have family around during this unfamiliar situation and we’re very grateful.
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Aww I can only imagine the panic you must have felt Natasha!!! Poor Baby H! :(
So sorry to read about your terrifying experience. I hope that you can get into see a specialist soon. My son is allergic is dairy and although it’s not severe, it is worrisome and stressful at times.
Thanks. The specialist just called and we have an appointment on September 30th. I am sorry to hear that your son is allergic to dairy, that must be frustrating since dairy is in so many things. Do you have any tips on how to deal with a food allergy?
Thanks Danielle! It was definitely not something I would like to go through again. My little monkey is a trooper. :)
Wow, hope he’s feeling better now. Keep us posted on the outcome :)
Hope Baby H will be feeling better soon and you and the hubby for peace of mind. I would also suggest a possible culprit for the reaction is the fungus in the soup- I know of a few people who have severe allergies to fungus’. Things will be sorted out soon though- I am hoping for the best
So scary Natasha – I am so sorry you had to go through that. I know when Oliver got a fever at 18 days old and I had to take him to CHEO, I never cried or was so scared in my life. I ended up having to stay with him there for 6 days on an IV – first they had to put it in a vain in his head then later his arm. I am so thankful that Hudson is ok – I was so emotional reading about this because I know exactly how you feel with not knowing what is going on or what is causing it. If you ever need anything do not hesitate to ask.
Coming from Canadian Moms
I’m so sorry that this happened! I can’t even fathom how scary this was for all of you.
My son doesn’t have allergies but I’m tweeting this out as I’m sure that there are plenty of moms out there with children of peanut allergies. Hopefully they can reach out to you and offer you support and tips.
(((hugs))!
Sorry that this happened to you. You will be so happy though, finding out that your son & possibly you can eat such a new variety of foods & that you will have increased health avoiding foods thy cause ypu trouble. It took a year to DX the major allergies but my son has energy, fewer colds, no eczema breakouts, & i can rest easier knowing his gut is healing thus absorbin mkre nutrients. There are support groups & twitter friends who can help w all the fun changes :)If ou are getting a blood test you can also test for tons of allergy w the blood draw, I’d get as many tested as possible, 1st time we only tested the top culprits but next time we found more. Love to u & urz
Hey Natasha, I just tweeted and a few moms offered help. One has three kids with allergies and wants to talk to you via email. I think it would be great to talk to someone like her. She’s a dear friend of mine.
Can you email me?
kimber_loo@yahoo.ca
Hi, Natasha.
I’m so sorry to hear this.
But, you will learn how to live,,differently, and vigilantly;;;it’ll take time, but you’ll learn how.
I have 3 with peanut allergies.
You can email me.
In the meantime, I subscribe online to Food and Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.
There are some other online communities, too.
I saw a therapist for my anxiety over it.
She gave me this advice, that I remind myself of, always, “to take away the fear, replace it with education.”
I have done that..and feel safer.
Pls email me with any questions, worries, anxieties..I know what it’s like.
That is really scary! I’m glad you made it to the hospital and he was fine in the end.
Thank you again to everyone for your comments. The Allergist confirmed that Baby H is indeed allergic to peanuts. We are doing well with the transition but we have realized that almost everything “may contain nuts”. :)
Alexandra – Thank you! That is a great quote. I have definitely been reading up on it and asking a lot of questions and my anxiety has gotten a little better.
We are trying to teach Baby H to say no to peanuts and it is kind of working.
Thanks Kimberly, I will send you an email.