Back in early August we made our way back to the Food Allergy Institute to do two more challenges and two more introductions. Eli passed both denatured cow’s milk and brasil nut. Eli is typically pretty stoic about the food challenges, but for the first time, when he passed denatured cow’s milk, he did a fist pump and was pretty excited. I don’t know if it is my age or what, but I got choked up watching. It’s like getting to watch a miracle happen in slow motion.
The next day they introduced flax seed and cow’s milk yogurt (peach flavor, if you are wondering!). No reaction. More relief for us. Seeing his body tolerate the denatured milk, and later the cow’s milk yogurt feels nothing short of a miracle. At this point, they consider him safe for cross contact with milk.
When Eli was a toddler, we went to a friend’s house and he took what could only have been a miniscule sip of milk from another toddler’s cup, and within minutes was covered in head to toe hives. That is as far as it progressed, and was considered a “mild” reaction because there were no other symptoms and it didn’t require epi-pens. My mind flashes back to this and other moments in his life whenever we pass a food. And then it flashes forward to him getting to eat out with friends, go to college and eat in the cafeteria, share our favorite restaurants and foods with him. We feel so blessed.
On this trip, we brought his big brother along to show him the ropes and take him to the Long Beach Aquarium, pictures below!
Eli,
This is so exciting! I love to hear about your journey.
Love you,
Grammy