Grief isn't just tied to the loss of loved ones; it can emerge when our reality falls short of our dreams for ourselves or those we love - and a food allergy diagnosis can do just this.

Tanya's BlogsTanya Laperouse21 November 2023allergy diagnosis griefComment

The Heavy Burden of Responsibility on Young Shoulders

Knowing it didn’t belong to her, she politely refused explaining it wasn’t hers but unfortunately her teacher became angry and insisted. “I only let it touch my lips mummy, I just pretended I was drinking.” she told me later that night after we had returned home from A&E.

To Give Hope, Real Hope.

So when years later I was asked the question, “What would you personally like to come out of everything that you have been through in the last few years? ”My answer was ‘HOPE’.

Why Medical Research Matters; Why Hope Matters

So when asked the question, “What would you personally like to come out of everything that you have been through in the last few years?” my answer was for hope. Hope for people living lives that are dictated and led by food allergies as our had been. Hope for a safer future for our children, a future where food is not to be feared, where accidentally eating an allergen isn’t the stuff of nightmares.

The Fear of Allergens in Skin Products is for Good Reason

The recent outrage over Nivea’s introduction of almond oil to their children’s sunscreen went viral on social media. Parents of allergic children just couldn’t understand why the oil of a known allergen had been added. Nivea’s official response was somewhat surprising.

Dangers Hiding in the Shadows

Every year between March and May, for those three months, she would require a dose of antihistamine every morning and again in the afternoon. To miss a dose was to invite an asthma attack. We were only ever prescribed Piriton for her and it always made her very sleepy. She struggled in those months, particularly at school and was irritable and not herself.

Trust

When Natasha was little, learning to trust others to look after her was incredibly hard and never more so than when the time came for her to start nursery.

Twenty-First Birthday Thoughts

I’m sitting at Natasha’s desk in her bedroom, it’s where I like to work surrounded by all her things. Today, the 16th December is her birthday and had she lived, she would be twenty-one years old. Five whole years have passed, an eternity since I last held her in my arms, hugging her too quickly at the airport - how I wish I had held on for just a little longer.

We are Family

The best thing we tried to do as parents, was to demonstrate positive coping skills, hoping they would instil in Natasha and Alex confidence and encourage them to do the same.

Tanya's BlogsTanya Laperouse8 June 2021

Allergies and Eczema - Learning to Join Up the Dots

When Natasha was a small baby, twelve weeks old, her skin became inflamed and itchy all over her face, arms and body.

Tanya's BlogsTanya Laperouse10 March 2021

The Gift of Confidence

If I’m feeling low I can find myself focussing on negatives. I stew on things that I can’t change, usually in the past.

Tanya's BlogsTanya Laperouse8 September 2020

Life Before & After Allergies

Close your eyes for a moment and think back to a time in your life, a moment when you realised in a millisecond, that nothing will ever be the same again.

Tanya's BlogsTanya Laperouse31 July 2020