Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee
  • About FACET
    • Become a Member
    • Mission and Goals
    • Our Leadership
    • FACET Advocate Blog
  • Support
    • Our Support Groups >
      • Lil' Champs
      • Champions
      • Support Network (Links)
    • Special Events for Kids >
      • Safe Egg Hunt
      • Summer Camp
      • Happy Halloween
      • Walk for Food Allergy
    • School Setting
    • Family & Friends
    • Dining Out
    • Grocery shopping
    • Holiday Safety
    • Recommended Reading
  • Education
    • Our Advisory Council >
      • Ask the Allergist!
    • #TealPumpkinProject >
      • FA Safety Tips
    • Educational Presentations
    • Food Allergy Basics
    • Symptoms of Reaction
    • Anaphylaxis
    • Diagnosis and Testing
    • Treatment and Managing Reactions
    • Labeling the Top 8 Food Allergens >
      • Milk
      • Egg
      • Soy
      • Wheat
      • Peanut
      • Tree Nut
      • Shellfish
      • Fish
  • Advocacy
    • Awareness Week
    • Stock Epinephrine (Schools)
    • Restaurant Standards & Training
    • Research & Advancing a Cure
    • Food Allergy Blogs
  • Contact Us
    • *Find us on Facebook here!
  • Donate!

Why I Walk...

10/1/2015

0 Comments

 
by Amanda Painter, South Chapter Coordinator 
Picture
When I decided to attend my first FARE Walk for Food Allergy, I didn’t know what to expect.  We didn’t have a local walk and traveled to participate in this one.  I was compelled to attend though, for the sake of my daughter, and maybe for the sake of my own sanity. 
The funds raised at the walk were for FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education).  This organization (and predecessors, FAAN & FAI) had been my go-to for information as I was in the beginning stages of this food allergy journey. I was happy to do a small part to support this organization.

During the ceremony, the speaker spoke of her child with food allergies, how important it was to educate those around the child, and the hope for a cure.  I looked through the crowd and saw tears in the eyes of other mothers; the same tears that were in mine.  The connection was immediately there.  They too were working tirelessly to avoid another reaction in their child.  They worry that they won’t respond fast enough.  They fear losing their child to the wrong food.  They hope for a cure.

When I left the event I knew there was a larger community standing behind me supporting my child, my family and me.  I knew I wasn’t alone with all of the challenges we faced, and challenges yet to come.  I was a part of a community that understood and worked to create change.  I left that event making plans in my head of how I could contribute more to this community that means so much to us.   Fast forward to today, and now I co-chair a local walk. 
 
I walk for my daughter 
I walk to show my daughter how much we support her.  I want her to feel the support of this community and know that she is never alone with the challenges she faces.  She has a team behind her.  A support network that is much greater than just our family and friends there walking with her.  There is a community that knows her struggles and celebrates her triumphs with us. 
 
I walk to have a morning that is all about her.  She is often restricted in one way or another at kid-friendly events.  We spend carnivals, festivals and other events following behind her, reminding her to be aware and not step on the popcorn spilled on the ground.  Asking her to not touch this or that.  Stopping a well-meaning person handing out free samples.  Avoiding the melted ice cream on a bench.  Answering her questions of, “is this safe for me?” The answer is often no.  But at our walk, the answer is always yes.  Yes, go play, enjoy and be unrestricted for the morning. 

I walk for a cure
I’m a firm believer in accepting the diagnosis of food allergy and not being focused on the “someday.”  I’ve moved past the stage of thinking “surely she’ll outgrow these allergies soon.”   We live in the present moment, and in this moment she has multiple life-threatening food allergies.  Despite this diagnosis, she is thriving.  We still hope for a cure.  A cure would allow her (and millions of others) to not live in fear of a reaction.

I walk to raise awareness and share education
Until there is a cure, it is vital that those managing food allergies live a full and happy life.  I want this for my daughter and for everyone managing food allergies.  It takes an educated and caring community to support individuals with food allergies.  I want my child to be safe and included.  I want her to be surrounded by those who “get it” and encourage her to make healthy choices.  I want everyone around her to know how to help in an emergency.  I want to surround her with a community that is compassionate to her challenges and support her to manage her diagnosis confidently.  Awareness and education are crucial for all of this to happen.

I walk for 15 million Americans, millions more around the world, and their families
I walk for the parents that struggle to afford allergy testing and life-saving medication.
I walk for the adults managing food allergies in the workplace. 
I walk for the mom afraid she will pass her food allergies onto her unborn child.
I walk for the college student that is navigating living away from his/her parents for the first time. 
I walk for the teen challenged to be independent and remember all the steps to stay safe.
I walk for the child wanting desperately to fit in and not be excluded by classroom treats.
I walk for the preschooler struggling to forget the terrifying ride in an ambulance to the hospital.
I walk for the toddler too young to understand the consequences of trying a friend’s snack.
I walk for the mom that thought it was just another morning, feeding her baby a food for the first time.  Not knowing her life would be forever changed in that moment.

I walk for the family that grieves the loss of a loved one due to consuming the wrong food.  
I walk to honor the memory of those who have passed - Natalie, BJ, Sabrina and too many others.  
I walk in hope that we will not have to add more names to the list. 


I believe that focusing on something productive allows less time to dwell in the negative.  Participating in our walk allows me to do this.  It allows me to be a part of the solution to the challenges my family, and many others, face every day.  It allows me to teach my children to do the same so that they will strive to be healthy and productive individuals.  We chose to be positive and work to make our community and world better.  

0 Comments
    Picture
    We understand the challenges of managing food allergies.
    It is our mission to support, educate and advocate to improve
    the social aspect of
    food allergy. 

    Please join FACET in
    our mission today. 

    Categories

    All
    504 Plan
    AAAAI
    Allergy Friendly Foods
    Are You Confident?
    Birthday Parties
    Cafeteria
    Caregivers
    Disney
    Emergency Binder
    Emergency Care Plan
    Encouragement
    FARE Walk For Food Allergy
    Food Allergy Awareness
    Food Allergy Research
    Food Free Fun
    Holidays
    Inclusion
    Know Your Epi
    Lunch Room
    Must Read Resources
    Non Top 8 Allergens
    Outgrowing
    Peanut-free Table
    Positive Impact
    Preparedness
    Risk
    School
    Self-care
    Self Management
    Siblings
    Stress
    Support
    Teens
    Testing
    Tragedy
    Travel
    Walk
    Why 2?

    Archives

    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    May 2014

    RSS Feed


     Join FACET!

  • About Us
  • Donate
  • Support
  • Education
  • Advocacy
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

    Contact FACET:

Submit

Terms of Use Disclaimer:
By using this site, you are agreeing to the terms of use stated. If you do not agree with terms below, please  do not use this site.
 The content on this web site and any information presented by FACET is for informational purposes only and NOT a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 
The authors are not offering individual medical advice; this material is for reference only. A physician or other qualifying medical professional should always be consulted for medical advice/diagnosis.
The authors of this web site; anyone associated with FACET as members, advocates, leaders, or advisors; Friends of FACET and/or anyone involved with the production of this web site are not responsible, and do not assume responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, illness, death, or otherwise negative impact that may occur after reading and using the information on this web site.


If you have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately and follow up with a physician.
  • About FACET
    • Become a Member
    • Mission and Goals
    • Our Leadership
    • FACET Advocate Blog
  • Support
    • Our Support Groups >
      • Lil' Champs
      • Champions
      • Support Network (Links)
    • Special Events for Kids >
      • Safe Egg Hunt
      • Summer Camp
      • Happy Halloween
      • Walk for Food Allergy
    • School Setting
    • Family & Friends
    • Dining Out
    • Grocery shopping
    • Holiday Safety
    • Recommended Reading
  • Education
    • Our Advisory Council >
      • Ask the Allergist!
    • #TealPumpkinProject >
      • FA Safety Tips
    • Educational Presentations
    • Food Allergy Basics
    • Symptoms of Reaction
    • Anaphylaxis
    • Diagnosis and Testing
    • Treatment and Managing Reactions
    • Labeling the Top 8 Food Allergens >
      • Milk
      • Egg
      • Soy
      • Wheat
      • Peanut
      • Tree Nut
      • Shellfish
      • Fish
  • Advocacy
    • Awareness Week
    • Stock Epinephrine (Schools)
    • Restaurant Standards & Training
    • Research & Advancing a Cure
    • Food Allergy Blogs
  • Contact Us
    • *Find us on Facebook here!
  • Donate!