Bittersweet news and diagnosis

After a series of allergy testing, chest x-rays, pulmonary function tests etc. The Allergist sat down with me and began to explain what was happening to Eli.

She confirmed my suspicions of severe asthma, reflux, digestion issues, and allergies. What I didn't expect was the magnitude of his allergies and the change it was going to bring to our family and life as Eli would have known it.

He had to begin a new diet immediately and a new lifestyle that avoided many things including:
Wheat, soy, eggs, beef, pork, venison, peanuts, tree nuts, corn and any product derived from corn or corn fed, no red or yellow dyes, no pastas, no breads, and only select dairies. He could not even be where these things were a possibility of being airborne. He was allergic to numerous household items such as: detergents, aerosols, dogs, cats, horses, well basically any animal with fur or that required bedding. We were proud owner of a pet fish however...he just couldn't feed them due to the allergy to their food.

I began researching and then preparing special meals and in addition to that the doctor had recommeded a strict regimen of medications for asthma and allergies paired with daily breathing treatments and special bedding, cleaning products, and skin care. I was working full time at that time and was not sure how his specialized care was going to be possible while caring for our other three children as well as working. I continued to do that for the next several months but Eli's condition continued to decline. My husband and I made the decision for me to come home from my career to provide Eli with the around the clock care he needed.

Fast forward about 2 years to when Eli turned 3 years old. He had experienced many health challenges such as ear & sinus infections, eczema, reflux, allergic reactions, anaphylactic reactions, and numerous bouts with pneumonia and viruses. One of his illnesses caused a temp of 105 degrees (we had to take him into the doctor daily for injections because the temp refused to break). That resulted in pnuemonia and the continued high temperature haddamaged the eye muscle. Eli now is wearing glasses and has to patch the affected eye 2 hours a day to help strengthen it. He is one handsome guy in those glasses however!

Among all the specialists, doctors and medications, Eli, was a happy 3 year old full of life and we enjoyed every day with him. I prayed faithfully everyday that there would be a change in his health condition. I was hanging onto every word that the specialist said when she said after a full 2 years of a complete avoidance diet we would re-test Eli and see what food allergies had improved.

The day came for retesting and I was so hopeful, but within only a few minutes into the testing procedure we had to stop and remove all the testing serums because of another severe reaction. I was devistated when the allergist told me that there had been no improvement and that she had no more treatment options available for Eli. He was on the maximum doses of as many medications she could put him on and we'd have to control him as we have been with this same treatment plan.