A mother’s journey through her child’s almond allergy and the community support that made a difference
In July 2023, my 8-year-old son and I were enjoying smoothies when he suddenly said his throat felt weird. I noticed a red rash on his chin, and we rushed to the doctor. After a skin-prick test, we got the news: he was allergic to almonds.
That moment changed everything. Allergies like this can lead to anaphylaxis, which is super serious. I was in shock because no one in our family had allergies before. The allergist gave us an EpiPen and an action plan, but I was filled with anxiety.
Those first weeks were tough. I worried constantly about what would happen if he had a reaction when I wasn’t around. We started carrying an EpiPen and antihistamines everywhere. Every time he tried something new, we checked the labels for almonds.
Our family and friends were amazing. They learned how to use the EpiPen and made sure to check ingredients. I even found myself worrying about his teenage years and what might happen at parties.
But my son was so brave. He started checking labels himself and asking about ingredients at birthday parties.
After a year, we went back for a follow-up test. I was nervous watching him react to different allergens. But the allergist said his almond reaction was much lower than before.
She suggested an “almond challenge,” where they’d introduce small amounts of almonds in a safe setting. My son was calm and said he wasn’t scared.
When my husband called with the news that our son hadn’t reacted, I was overwhelmed with joy. For the next week, he had to eat a small amount of almonds daily, and when he had no reactions, he was given the all-clear.
To celebrate, I jokingly told him to give almonds the middle finger, and we all laughed.
It’s rare for kids to outgrow nut allergies, but my son did. This experience taught me so much about community and friendship. Our friends went above and beyond to support us, and I learned that bravery can come from the most unexpected places. My son faced his fears head-on, and I think we could all learn a little from that.
