Sam's Story
A frank take on motherhood
and allergies (web exclusive)
By Samantha Yaffe
Entry 12: The Allergic Test
Subject – Not My Son
A few years back, we found ourselves between allergists. Our first one died a year after Lucas was diagnosed with peanut, tree nut and egg, and the second one was, well – to put it mildly – not a good fit. After pulling a few strings, Lucas, Honey and I headed off to meet allergist No. 3 – a very reputable doctor, renowned for his allergy research.
I was feeling confident and partly excited as we waited the requisite 45 minutes in the hallway along with dozens of other allergics of all ages and stages. The wait continued for what seemed like another hour inside the good doctor’s office...... More
the gluten-free girl
By Shauna James Ahern
A Tender Palate
Long before our daughter was born, we dreamed of feeding her.
After we finally brought her home, we introduced her to rosemary just clipped from the bush, vanilla bean, and balsamic vinegar. No, we weren’t giving food to a 2-week-old baby. We were putting it under her nose, encouraging her to sniff. Our kitchen often smells of caramelized onions, roasted meats, and cake just out of the oven. Early on, she learned how to lean in, her eyes wide, focused on us. It was a lovely way to share our passions with her, no matter how young she was. .... More
ask the celiac expert
By Shelley Case, RD
Q Have you got any tips on eating safely at barbecues? More
ask the allergists
With Dr. Susan Waserman
and Dr. Wade Watson
Q I’m quite allergic to shellfish and recently, my husband ate shrimp at a cocktail function and, as usual, came home and brushed his teeth and washed his hands and face. Later that evening, we had sexual intercourse and afterward I noticed some hives on my torso. Reactine made the hives go away – but could shrimp protein actually be in semen and cause a reaction? More
editor's note
By Gwen Smith
Epidemic of Hype
When a Harvard social scientist equated the measures taken by schools to accommodate food allergies with mass hysteria – the media ate it up. Perhaps it was the “emperor has no clothes” syndrome, gotcha journalism or simple contrarianism, but Dr. Nicholas Christakis’s article in the British Medical Journal got columnists and reporters buzzing in a way that no press release on a food allergy breakthrough could do. Whoa, the chorus of discontent seemed to say: “It’s all a lot of needless fuss....” More
hot topics
By Laurie Harada
Executive Director of Anaphylaxis Canada
Allergy and the Sibling
As readers who are parents know, safeguarding a child with a food allergy can be daunting. Household routines, such as grocery shopping and food preparation, require adjusting, and decisions about where to dine out or travel often revolve around what’s best for the food-allergic child.... More
