It's hard to believe my son Evan is 18 years old and getting ready to start college. Such an exciting time for him and a proud time for me. So many memories he will make and what a great journey he will be on as he discovers what his future holds. I look forward to watching him grow into the man I know he will be. But this also brings a bit of fear and anxiety for me as a parent. And while this is completely par for the course, it seems just a little heavier being a food allergy parent. I find myself asking questions like: Did I teach him as much as I could have? Did I give him all the proper tools to know how to deal with an accidental exposure? Will he continue to make smart choices when eating at certain restaurants? Will he get lax around his friends? So many questions run through my head. He assures me that he is good and will continue to be. So, all I can do is let him fly and trust that everything will be great. There may be some minor bumps here and there, but this is his journey. It's part of growing up, taking on more responsibility, and making grown-up decisions.
Evan recently came to me with lots of his own questions regarding his tree-nut allergy. He is allergic to peanuts, peas, and a couple of tree nuts. To be safe, we decided early on, based on the allergist's recommendations, to just avoid all tree nuts. However, I have always told him that if and when he is ever ready to explore his options, I fully support it. I started pulling out his old food allergy tests for him to review, and he expressed that he may want to look into trying some tree nuts. We headed to the allergist and had blood work and skin testing done. Both tests showed that he is no longer allergic to any tree nuts. The allergist told us that a three-hour food challenge would be the next step to confirm that he can safely eat them. Keep in mind that all of this is happening less than two weeks before his college move-in day. We decided as a family that we will hold off on the food challenge until his holiday break. At the same time, I have to reiterate and educate him and everyone around him that while this is super promising, it does not mean he can just go out there and eat items containing tree nuts. So, again, back to the questions... You know you can't attempt to eat x, y, or z without a food challenge and being closely monitored in the allergist's office, right? I think he gets it, and honestly, I don't think he will, but it is another added layer of anxiety that I have to worry about until he has this challenge and while he is off at college. So, until then, I will probably keep reminding him and doing lots of research in preparation for that big day.
As college move-in day quickly approaches, I need to focus on getting his dorm ready and making sure he feels confident about eating in the dining halls. I was so happy to learn that Michigan State is rated as number nine out of 100 allergy-friendly colleges. They have nine dining halls that are considered “nut-conscious,” and one is free of the top eight allergens. All the dining staff are trained and knowledgeable about food allergies and cross-contact. I also learned that allergen information is clearly labeled on all dining hall menus and on the culinary website. Evan decided to room with three close childhood friends, and we are so lucky to have these boys and their families in his life. It definitely helps to know that he is living with boys who are very familiar with Evan’s food allergies and know what to do in an emergency. I know they will do well and be a great support system for one another.
I have had a few friends express to me that their children were sick practically the entire first year of college. These parents believe, and I now do as well, that it had to do with the older dorm buildings and possibly mold. My son has indoor and outdoor allergies as well, so after seeing and hearing some of these stories, I decided to get his allergist to approve an AC unit for Evan’s dorm. We have to pay for the installation, but I think it’s worth it to help with his allergies. I also bought him an air purifier that had great ratings and reviews for dorm-sized rooms. The purifier can be operated through a phone app, so I can actually make sure the air is clean and that he is changing the filter. A little bit of control still on my part, LOL. I heard the dorm mattresses are just YUCK, so we got him an allergen mattress casing and a mattress topper. Another recommendation was to get these moisture-absorbing packs for their bathroom. The boys have their own private bathroom, but it has no ventilation, and I’m not sure how well these boys will clean it. 😂 So, I’m hoping all of these steps will help him have a healthy and safe college experience while still having all the freedom and fun that college life brings.
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