05 August 2011

Peanut Allergic Teen Officially DESENSITIZED to PEANUTS

On April 12,2011 my son Alexander, who is deathly allergic to peanuts, was officially declared "DESENSITIZED". 


The term sounds like a condition out of a science fiction movie void of feeling and sterile. 
It actually befits our situation as Alexander experienced No Reaction to the ingestion of peanuts during the entire OIT process.


So you may ask "how did we achieve this?" Dr. Wasserman and his staff, especially Angela Galucci,P.A. are the medical heroes making history with their Oral Immunotherapy program.
Our part was being a willing and dedicated participant in the Dallas Allergy Immunology oral immunotherapy program (OIT) for peanuts.


It is important to note that Dr.Wasserman also offers OIT for milk, wheat and egg allergies.
It is surprising the talk to other patients and discover that many peanut allergic people are also allergic to one or more of these other food allergies.


Alexander was not only brave to agree to ingest peanuts to which he is deathly allergic 
(you should read his testing results in a previous post)
but he followed all the rules and requirements with little complaint other than cringing at the mere thought of having to take his distasteful dose.
Yes he also mastered the art of delay when it came to taking his dose. I've heard many funny stories from other patients whose children have taken the slow-playing of dose taking to a new creative high.


As for our journey since April 12th with Alexander's " maintenance dose" of peanuts, I will write a future post on his progress.


I want to thank Dr.Wasserman and his staff for all of their encouragement, candor and support. 


This program is a real breakthrough for everyone who suffers from the dreaded peanut allergy.
I implore you to investigate this program for yourself.  
Read past posts and comments and do your own research. 
Helpful links are on the right side of my blog.


As an expression of our joy and excitement for becoming "desensitized to peanuts" we want to express our prayerful thanks to God our Father for his many blessings 
and
as we say in Texas "yeehaw".

8 comments:

Leah_b_wilson said...

I'm so glad that Alexander is doing well. My son is also doing great on his maintenace dosing! It has changed his life. He has so much more freedom. He went to two sleepaway camps this summmer and is going to a new school. He really is enjoying eating new foods but does procrastinate when it is time for his dose each day. We are so thankful for this treatment and for Dallas allergy!

Rita said...

Congratulations Alexander and family!  What wonderful news, thanks for being a pioneer in this treatment to the family and to the doctor! 

JulieBeiersdorf said...

Hi Rita- thank you so very much for the congratulations. We have been truly blessed by our experience. So far so good.
I pray many others decide to choose the path of peanut,wheat, egg or milk desensitization. I anticipate many other doctors will be offering this treatment in the future as it continues to prove successful. 

Lea said...

Thanks for sharing your story.  It makes me so hopeful.  My six year old son was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy (level 6) when he was 16 months old.  We have been avoiding peanuts and living with worry all this time.  We found a doctor in our city who is doing the desensitization and my son will start treatments this fall.  Wish us luck!

JulieBeiersdorf said...

Hi Lea. I know exactly how you feel. With a peanut allergy there is always that invisible and sometimes visible worry. I am so thankful you have found a doctor in your city that offers desensitization.
Read my most recent post for more encouragement.
Would you please post the Doctors name and city. Proper treatment is still very rare. It would be helpful information for others in this same situation.
Once your son starts treatment. It would be great if you could post your experience.
Thank you for your post. All the very best !! Julie

Sue said...

God is so good. My son has been in a program in Tulsa and will be up to 1 peanut twice daily this week. He hates the taste of the peanuts too.

Kristy said...

@Sue- which doctor/clinic in Tulsa do you use?

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