I truly have the most wonderful, understanding, thoughtful, do-goodery readers. And this is why I’m going off the deep end for a moment. If you’re a long time reader, you know I don’t do this often. I just feel the need to say something because it’s that time of year again.
And if you’ve been here a while, you know I’m very nervous right now, and will be for DAYS. Halloween should be fun for everyone. But each year, I cringe as we head down the street, Epi-Pen capS unscrewed and ready to go.
I go through some practice runs with the Epi-Pen training device that comes with each twin pack. I am ready. Yet, I’m acutely aware that no matter how fast I inject my son, it may not matter. If he eats peanuts… if he breathes someone’s peanut laden breath…Or is touched by someone who has eaten them, he may die no matter how fast I am. No matter how much intervention he receives. His body hates nuts. Hates them to the point that it reacts so strongly it may cause his organs to fail, or for them to become permanently damaged. Or worse.
So this is my request to you to please pick up one bag of candy (Wonka, Whoppers, Tootsie Rolls, Junior Mints, etc.) or a bag of Play Doh for children like my son, who can’t eat Reese’s PB Cups, Snickers or, well, Mars candy in general – among a zillion others.
He wants to go Trick-or-Treating just like everyone else, and that look on his face when he’s confronted with being *different* hurts him and crushes me. I see that a LOT. I hate it. Hate isn’t a word I use lightly either.
He doesn’t just say, “Trick-or-Treat”
He says, “Trick-or-Treat, I’m allergic to nuts.”
Sometimes there is something for him, often not.
I will NOT exclude him from fun activities over this. That won’t help him learn to LIVE with his allergies. Yet, for me, the fear is nearly crippling. I pray, and pray some more. And beg. There is a lot of begging and pleading for clarity. Yeah, I do that pretty much every day, but it’s worse this week.
That said, there is a brand new $1.50/1 Play Doh Trick or Treat pack on their Facebook page. Please pick one up for my buddy and the 6 million other food allergic children across this country who desperately want to be normal…on the night everyone is trying to be different. Life is full of little ironies, isn’t it?
Note: Play Doh contains wheat and is not suitable for those allergic to it. Pick up a glow stick multipack at your local dollar store for those precious children.
Please be the house that has something for everyone, my do goodery friends, until there’s a cure.
