It was time for J's annual food allergy appointment. At every check up they draw his blood to check his allergen levels. We were excited for this one because his wheat allergen has been decreasing over the last few years. Normal is .34 or less. When he was diagnosed at thirteen months old he was off the charts at 29. Last year it was at a 5 and the doctor told him when he gets to a 1 they will do a wheat trial in the office. He clung to that and has been so sure he will be a 1 at this appointment.
So for the last few weeks he has been talking about all the wheat things he will eat like waffles, pizza, cookies and bread, but the thing he is desperate to try is a cinnamon roll. M and J assure him cinnamon rolls are the absolute best and he is going to love them. He also told all the kids at school he was being tested and everyone is cheering for him.
Hope is a tricky thing. It can be heady and intoxicating, but crushing when ripped away. A week after his appointment his blood results came back and J's levels doubled this past year. He is now a 10. It is not uncommon for allergy levels to fluctuate, but I cried when I learned the results. Not for myself, but for J.
Telling J was sad. I watched the hope slowly drain from his eyes and his shoulders slump as I told him his levels. I hugged him and we talked about how disappointed he was and that some things just stink. But then I shared the one silver lining...his kiwi level came back normal so he can eat it now. It wasn't as thrilling as wheat, but it was something and we went with it.
Eating kiwi was pretty dang exciting and J loved it. Now he wants it at every meal.
Maybe he will get to try wheat cinnamon rolls next year...they are the absolute best.
So for the last few weeks he has been talking about all the wheat things he will eat like waffles, pizza, cookies and bread, but the thing he is desperate to try is a cinnamon roll. M and J assure him cinnamon rolls are the absolute best and he is going to love them. He also told all the kids at school he was being tested and everyone is cheering for him.
Hope is a tricky thing. It can be heady and intoxicating, but crushing when ripped away. A week after his appointment his blood results came back and J's levels doubled this past year. He is now a 10. It is not uncommon for allergy levels to fluctuate, but I cried when I learned the results. Not for myself, but for J.
Telling J was sad. I watched the hope slowly drain from his eyes and his shoulders slump as I told him his levels. I hugged him and we talked about how disappointed he was and that some things just stink. But then I shared the one silver lining...his kiwi level came back normal so he can eat it now. It wasn't as thrilling as wheat, but it was something and we went with it.
Eating kiwi was pretty dang exciting and J loved it. Now he wants it at every meal.
Maybe he will get to try wheat cinnamon rolls next year...they are the absolute best.
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