Shona's Story

If you hadn't guessed my name's Shona, I'm a local mum living in Tunbridge Wells. I have two young children who both have Egg and Milk allergies, but my eldest also has a severe Nut allergy.

When I had my first baby, I envisioned everything being amazing, little did I foresee the loneliness that Covid would bring. At 8 weeks old my little ones life was changed from being whisked to baby classes, family homes and seeing friends into a world of silence and waving through windows.

I had already been finding my transition to motherhood hard enough, being a new mum navigating the world with support can be a head spin, but when our country went into lock down not only did my mental health suffer but my nutrition did too. I was one of those people who got on the banana bread grind and even made a weekly boxed cheesecake filled with milk and butter.

We had spent a week in hospital, and seemed to have a good routine, but after we brought our bundle home from the hospital we saw our baby become uncomfortable, we thought it was the change in environment. Then we thought it was an over production in milk supply, colic, indigestion, and trapped wind. I started to realize something wasn't quite right with my little ones nappies.

Every nappy I changed had a stool, but one that was filled with thick mucus. *Sorry for the graphic details* Despite my many calls to the GP and Health Visitors (we couldn't get home visits during this time) I felt like my concerns were brushed off as first-time mum, in a pandemic, being irrational. However, I do appreciate them not being able to see it in person could have hindered a diagnosis.

This was when I started to do my own research, I could feel that something wasn't right, and I WAS going to get to the bottom of it. Of course, google isn't a mums best friend and my anxiety levels plummeted through the roof and worry kicked in, but shoving on my rational head I started to make changes to me (I was breastfeeding at the time). I had read that when babies have Milk allergies, mucus is a sign of their gut being unable to process the proteins and being irritated; even breastfeed babies can receive these proteins through their mothers milk!

I was stunned, I had been given none of this advice from Healthcare professionals, so I tested the theory for myself. I went on a Dairy free diet and weaned myself off those cheesecakes (my husband too, to his dismay). Within several weeks my little one had calmed down and wasn't so irritable. We saw a reduction in the mucus and before we knew it, it was time to start weaning.

Here comes the 2nd allergy! So fast forward several months into our weaning journey, making everything homemade, because so many premade baby foods have Milk in. *Eye Roll* I was making all sorts of wild and ridiculous concoctions that were very hit and miss. But I had to start introducing the allergen foods. I whipped up some scrambled Eggs ready for little one to devour, when after a just kidney bean sized amount of Egg and we have hives.... then a large amount of vomiting and full body hives.* Shock, I didn't expect this to happen*

Little to say I was full of panic and it was hard to keep myself calm. I scooped my little one up, shoved baby and my husband in the car and drove to the hospital (luckily, I live close). We rushed into A&E where we were told yes it was a reaction and we did the right thing *Phew*. 

We had a letter to the GP, were told to not give Milk or Egg to our baby, prescribed antihistamines in case we had another reaction and sent home. Not much else said.

So here we are aware of these two allergies, and we did well to navigate mealtimes around them, we added all allergens to our foods being as careful as possible. *Although looking back now, we obviously didn't*.

 A year or so later thankfully out of the Covid era, we had my 2nd baby and I remember whilst I was pregnant wishing they'd be allergy free, because we knew how much my 1st was missing out, the anxiety it causes with every meal we didn't make. I found a new level of distrust in others I never knew I had.

So, 2nd time round and already I saw the same signs in the nappies, I had several conversations with my GP, and they knew I was not letting it go and believed me. I couldn't believe that this time round I didn't have to prove I was right, I was believed. When it was time to end my breastfeeding journey, I was prescribed the Dairy Free formula for my littlest, and it made me feel heard.

Once again fast forward and we are back at the weaning stage again. So, what did we go to first? Eggs! Yes, Eggs first; lo and behold a very similar but not as bad reaction as with my 1st child. Fortunately, we had been down this road before, knew what to do and were already avoiding the same thing, so we could continue as normal. 

Until Halloween 2022! This was when our lives really changed, and I think my husband and I are still shell shocked by it. We were due to go to a Halloween party (during the day for reference) and whilst getting ready, my husband opened a bag of mixed nuts. My 1st now aged 2 1/2 decided he wanted to try a walnut for the first time. We'd already exposed him to Peanuts and Almonds, so assumed it would be okay. We assumed wrong!

Immediately there was a wail I hadn't heard before, fingers were in the ears, mouth was opening and we had no idea what to do. I was in panic mode! I rushed to the kitchen for the liquid antihistamines and shoved a spoonful in my toddlers mouth. I had no idea what to do and my mind went blank, we lived not far from the hospital and stupidly thought I could get there by car quicker than an Ambulance could get to me. *Please never do this, call and Ambulance if ever in this situation!*

I grabbed my child shoving them in the front seat of my car (in case I needed to get them out sharp) *not my finest parenting moment* leaving my youngest with my husband (who doesn't drive, baby was still breastfeeding) at home. I was driving as fast, but as safety as I could all the while forcing this struggling toddler to recite numbers with me on the drive, so I could check their breathing and keep them conscious. Halfway there and the symptoms of Anaphylaxis where showing. Red swollen skin, shallow  breathing and gasping for air *I have never been so scared in my life!*. 

As I continued this never-ending drive an Ambulance did a U turn right in front of me turning on its lights. I saw this opportunity to follow it through a red light, allowing me to get to the Hospital in the safest, yet admittingly the most terrifying drive of my life. I pulled up and rushed in, babe in arms, tears strolling down my face begging for help. *Just writing this bring tears to my eyes, at reliving this, the fear I felt and what I saw my baby go through, and I truly apologize if this hits hard with any readers or anyone who has experienced this - I feel you!* 

We were seen immediately and thankfully the reaction wasn't as bad as it could have been. The staff told me that as we were quick to administer the liquid antihistamines, it gave my little one a reduction in the reaction. We had to be kept for observation and during this time we had full on vomiting; which went everywhere and caused a secondary reaction (as in hives, where digested nuts in the vomit touched skin) we used wipes to wipe it off, clothes had to be chucked. I was sat cradling my naked child in a hospital gown dressed as a vomit covered pirate. But my baby was okay!

Thankfully my husband and father in law came with new clothes for us both and I was able to swap places with to go on baby duty. It was another several hours before my little one got to come home. 

The thing with reactions is most you can be at risk of having a secondary reaction after a initial bigger reaction. So, we needed to watch out for this for another 24 hours afterwards, and given steroid pills to give to my toddler, *6 to be precise* need to be crushed and added to water, they are the foulest thing ever and trying to give them to a toddler is damn right difficult.

The next morning was full of thankfulness and so many hugs. Over the next few months, we had follow ups with GPs, Pediatricians and Allergy Specialists. We were issued Epi pens, given antihistamines, skin prick tests for both children, food challenges, and given so much paperwork I could fill and arch lever folder. Since then we have been so careful and vigilant about what is in every food product our children eat, where they eat and how things are prepared.

It has been over a year and not a day goes by when my husband or I don't think about that day (or the other reaction days) and our allergy journey is continual, with ongoing appointments and food challenges. *We will forever be thinking about the what ifs, the how cans and having worst case scenarios, then it occurred to me.....we are not alone! Pretty sure we have a form of PTSD after this incident* 

I work closely with families in my job and have met some amazing people, some whom have little ones with allergies and one common discussions is the lack of moral support *Not talking medical kind* around allergies and the daily struggles of having to avoid allergens. 

I myself have looked for a support group that offers the freedom to share experiences, tips whilst meeting others in the same boat. Despite finding many wonderful Charities nationally, I couldn’t find something that closer to home. I needed something hopeful, happy and warm, whilst being able to share tips, recipes and even make friends too.

Which lead me to many sleepless nights of ideas of setting up my own support group; based locally in Tunbridge Wells, helping those I know and am yet to know. And then, My Little Allergy was born, a fresh idea and work in progress, with the potential to offer so much.