Last night my husband and I were watching a movie. There was a scene in the movie where a mother turns to her child and says "come on, let's go get some ice cream." The movie kept playing, but I was lost in my own thoughts for a moment as I realized that this was something I've never been able to say to my children. We don't have the luxury of stopping at an ice cream parlor for ice cream. There are way too many risks for B to mistakenly eat something that could kill her. Even though I was momentarily sad for yet another childhood luxury that B has had to miss out on, I quickly remembered that this is fixable. I don't think we will be able to take her to ice cream parlors even after her peanut OIT therapy is complete, because she will still be in danger of cross contamination from other tree nuts that she will still be allergic to... but it's okay! She won't be allergic to peanuts anymore, and if we wanted to (or could afford to) desensitize her to the other nuts she is allergic to, we can! We have something other than strict avoidance that works!
I am so grateful for OIT, and the very few doctors who are providing it in their private practices. B has been doing really great! She up-dosed to 175 mgms and then to 200 mgms all without any problems. Before we began the therapy, I couldn't imagine feeding my child the very food that we've been adamantly avoiding for so many years. The thought of it turned my stomach. But now, giving her a daily dose, and seeing with my own eyes how her body has been able to accept it and learn that it's just a food, has been so freeing. At the beginning, I was hoping she would be able to make it through the entire therapy, and now I am almost certain that she will. There could be a problem at any time, we know there are risks. We know that she still has to keep all of her allergy safety precautions in place because her body cannot handle even a smidgen more than 200mgs.... but she's getting there. In just 2 more appointments, she will be eating a whole peanut! Even more amazing, by the end of May (barring any illnesses or other setbacks) she will be eating 8 peanuts! The unthinkable is possible. I am so humbled, thankful, grateful, I can't really express what I am. This therapy is amazing!
