I know many of you allergy parents out there have had issues with the insurance coverage for your child’s specialized formula.
Good Morning America would like to hear your story. The show is currently asking parents to submit stories about the struggles they have faced when dealing with insurance companies. If you are interested in sharing your personal story, click here for more information.
For those of you who have been following the legislation in Maryland, click on the links below to see two great news pieces on this topic:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/062608/mounnew144809_32358.shtml
http://www.wbaltv.com/health/16719296/detail.html
Also, here is an interesting article about a little boy with EE in Chicago – the great news is that there is now insurance coverage in Illinois for children with this disease!
When I was a kid, my summer days usually consisted of riding bikes, running through the sprinkler in my underwear and mischief I won’t mention in case my kids ever read this. Nowadays, summer camps are the thing. And it’s not all KumBa Ya. A kid today can go to camp for everything from soccer to pottery to fashion. Which is great because camp is a great opportunity for kids to make new friends and explore interests they might not have time to during the school year.
But when you’re a food allergy family, summer camp presents some challenges. As a parent, how do you keep them safe when they’re away from home?
Just like we talk about at back-to-school time, communication is key.
• Talk to the camp officials before you even register your child to ensure that they have what you need – a heathcare professional on site; places to store special allergen-free snacks, supplements or medical foods, medical supplies; a good attitude and willingness to understand your child’s condition/needs, etc.
• Talk to a trusted friend (well, actually the trusted parents of your child’s trusted friend) about camp plans. If they have similar interests and both would like to go to the same camp, having a reliable buddy system can give you and your child some valuable peace of mind.
• Talk to your child, encouraging him/her to have a fun new experience but making sure he/she knows how to protect himself from exposure to an allergen. And make sure he/she takes that EpiPen® everywhere – out on the soccer field, up in the mountains or at the potter’s wheel.
• Talk to the counselor when you drop off your little one and go over all the details with him/her one last time before you leave. Don’t worry about looking like an overprotective Mom or Dad – this is important.
Oh, and when they get home, bring out the garden hose. ‘Cause camp is cool, but running around in the back yard in your bathing suit is still fun.
Be well,
Dr. Y
Milk in bottled water! CVS selling expired baby formula! Recently, there have been a few news stories that are quite shocking.
As an allergy parent, you’re a pro at reading food labels. However, most people wouldn’t think to check the label on a bottle of water. Now, you might have to. Click here to check out the article on Allergy Moms. Apparently, Special K Protein Water contains milk!
Some people are big on checking expirations dates. However, others don’t think twice about it. This is causing a big stir in New York where both CVS and Rite Aid have been selling expired products. Click here to read the article from Reuters. The expired products being sold included milk, eggs, baby formula, cold medicines, allergy treatments and other over-the-counter medicines.
It’s important to remember to be a conscious consumer — especially when shopping for your little one! If a bottle of water has milk in it, I wonder what else does?
- Sarah
I know, a harsh title. But that is what I thought of after reading the article, “A Plea for My Daughter,” in this month’s Newsweek magazine.
If you haven’t read the article, check it out. Rebecca king found out 6 months ago that her five-year-old daughter, Lydia, has a severe peanut allergy. Luckily, she came across the allergy as an “accident.” She had taken Lydia to an allergist for asthma, but walked out with the peanut allergy diagnosis.
Rebecca is going through what many allergy parents go through on a daily basis; understanding why saving your child’s life is an inconvenience to so many others. You feel guilty because you have to lecture a parent every time your child goes to a party. But that guilt doesn’t outweigh your child’s safety, not by a long shot.
There is a lot of backlash that comes from other parents who don’t really understand food allergies. Which I find really surprising because I feel pretty confident that if Rebecca’s daughter was at a pool party and she started to drown, any adult there would dive into that water to save her. And not one would talk about being “inconvenienced.” So, why all the eye-rolls and blasé attitudes about foods that threaten her life?
Maybe I have too much faith in humankind, but I have to think that it comes boiled down to a lack of understanding. So, the next time a parent rolls their eyes or becomes annoyed with you, try to take the time to sit down and chat with that parent. Maybe better awareness will make him/her think twice the next time he/she hears “my child has a food allergy.”
-Sarah
