Main

Wrist Bands

Take a Step and Nightmare Graphics have created a large wrist to go over the medic alert bracelets during sports or other outdoor contact activities. We found over this past year, that most leagues will not allow the children to wear their bracelets during the sport, unless they are covered, so we came up with these. I have red bands measuring 5" by 2.5" (tennis bands) with black imprinting on the front (see picture below)

Cost: $8.00 which includes shipping. Contact Tammy to order at 410-465-9669 or send an e-mail to nutmom@allergyawareness.org

Hello all. I am the mom of a 20-year -old young man with severe food allergies from airborne sources. He is a 2000 graduate from River Hill high school. We have lived in the county all his life and know the system regarding epi-pens, missed school days due to severe allergies, and fitting in with other kids. I share my perspective now.

Time to team up!
I believe if we want to continue the support to parents and kids in Howard County, we must offer a one-afternoon program at a middle school where kids of all ages with food allergies are specifically invited. And then have monthly kids support meetings. We can even have a "buddy up" system for younger kids to team with older kids.

After sports season --when things are winding down. Kick-off some time in early November. We could send inexpensive flyers to all the schools--one for each kid with allergies and to the school nurses who can contact parents. And tons to allergy offices. Just a flyer with dates and mission for on-going support groups. And to the Board of Ed who can send this info if we pay for postage--they do it for LD kids all the time!

This would give the older kids a chance to meet--sit in on the FAN film together and break into work groups. Sort of an expanded forum.

Why is this needed?

My take . . . My son reports he felt very isolated with his peanut allergies in middle school. He also got pushed around a lot because he was different. Elementary school was great, high school way great. Middle school was a nightmare with kids putting peanuts in his pockets and calling him "peanut popper boy", shoving him in lockers, body slamming him because he was slight in build and jazz like that.

I saw a VERY confident kid become withdrawn. Isolated. Luckily, he got very into music and a handful of close friends and somehow game out all the stronger. Went on to high school. Was well-liked, had friends, played rec sports, won the Principle's Award for Outstanding Achievement and Excellence.

Yet--getting him out of bed for middle school was more than difficult. He had allergies and the kids were mean-spirited simply because he stood out--had to eat inside due to bee allergies, couldn't clean up the table due to food allergies, often coughed to choking. What was acceptable in elementary made him a target in middle school.

The safe environment of elementary school eventually comes full circle with the increased maturity of students in high school.
Yet--you might be shocked by the middle school experience. My advice? Get united while your kids are little.

The group needs momentum:
If that is your goal, I suggest we offer programs an a monthly meeting of the kids and parents at a regular place like the library or a school library. Fun stuff for the kids, informative topics for parents.

I think that only if we get the numbers--get the parents fired up and the kids with a support network can we get the momentum and the administration behind this important issue.

That said---I will volunteer to write the flyers and coordinate delivery, IF we can get a group of 20 parents together who say "This is important to me" Any less is good, but doesn't speak the volumes we need to give Howard County kids. It is time to unite on a very vocal level.

I am an optimist, was always an optimist about this allergy deal--and want you to be too. But I am also a realist. Middle school is tough for kids without chronic health conditions-- add that element and a parent needs to be on the ball. Scary-? Not trying to be. But united? you need to be. Being strong and vocal makes administration listen. Can your kid grow up A-OK? Sure, mine did. He went off to college in Minnesota. Graduated and now works full-time as a studio engineer by day and
plays jazz in 2 bands by night. Did middle school almost put an end to his dream? Yes-it did.

Keep the torch burning
Be more prepared than we were--at the time there were only a handful of kids diagnosed. I played a very, very minor role
by speaking often to the board of ed and getting clearance to get epi-pens carried.

Tammy dedicated YEARS OF HER TIME to get the show on the road. She has been unrelentless in her vision and I am in awe of her. It is now up to you to keep the show going. For yourself and for your kids. Just my 2 cents from having been there.

Last bit of advice from this old mom:
Continue with your committee, but do so with a focused edge. This will take you further in the goal to integrating your kid in middle school while insuring your child's safety. Maybe his case was unique. But after he talked to kids at Camp Holiday Trials they echoed his sentiments. Being different is tough when you are 12, or 13, or 14. It can take it's toll.

Giving kids a safe place with people "like them" is a good gift to offer your child as he or she enters the "tween" years.

Regards,
Jann Keenan

PS We can be reached at 410-480-9754 should folks like to talk. You CAN get through the middle school years. It is my opinion that support groups for the kids and yourself is the key.

First, we're selling O's tickets for a May 29th game against Oakland. We have 40 seats Section #326 Row L Seats 1-20 and Row M Seats 1-20. Contact Wendy Farthing at 410-750-8329 to get your tickets.

We are also looking for volunteers for our next event which will be a bowl-a-thon. We will be having a meeting to work out the details soon. Please call Wendy Farthing at 410-750-8329 or Tammy Bowers at 410-465-9669 for more information or if you would like to help.

Book

We're publishing a book called "We're all alike: We're all Special! A story about food allergies." Created by children from our organization. Bethany Besseck Author and Joel Bowers illustrator.

We are selling them for $12, which includes postage and handling. Call Tammy Bowers at 410-465-9669 if you would like to buy a copy.

We would like to extend our appreciation to the many children, teens, and volunteers that participated in our 4th Annual Children's Forum "Kids talk to Kids" held at Kiwanis Wallis Recreational Center. The children ranged in age from 3rd to 12th grade. Children had their questions answered, received the latest information on food allergies, and spoke about real-life situations. We were fortunate to have Kim Mudd, R.N. from the University of Maryland Hospital and Lisa Punt with the The Food Allergy Network speak to participants. They discussed with both children and parents the potential dangers of food allergies and preventative measures they can take.

We appreciate the support many businesses provided for our children - Howard County Recreation and Parks; Safeway in Enchanted Forest; Play it Again Sports in St. Johns Plaza; Muvico in Arundel Mills; Chevy's in Greenbelt; Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's in Long Gate Shopping Center; and The Breadery in Ellicott City. We appreciate their continuous support on this important issue. As a reminder the week of May 5th-11th is 4th Annual Food Allergy Awareness Week. Please take this opportunity to educate yourselves on food allergies, this might ensure the safety of your child or their friends.

Here the latest news from Take A Step. Click on a topic to find out more.

Book