My Daughter’s Near-Death Experience Due to an Unknown Allergy

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My Daughter’s Near-Death Experience Due to an Unknown Allergy

by Emily Johnson

Updated: July 15, 2021

Originally Published: May 9, 2016

On a sunny summer day in 2013, I quickly dropped my daughter off at a local horse farm for day camp. At just 7 years old, she was utterly captivated by all things equestrian, and her dad and I had decided to gift her a week of horse camp for her birthday. She was thrilled to learn about riding, grooming, and caring for her beloved horses, and I was looking forward to three uninterrupted hours at Target—talk about a win-win! I watched her skip happily toward the stables, then sped off towards the big red bullseye.

Twenty minutes later, coffee in hand, I was happily wandering through Target when I noticed four missed calls from an unknown number. Just as I was trying to figure out who it could be, my phone rang again from that same number. It was the camp director. “You need to come immediately,” she said urgently. “Your daughter can’t breathe and is swelling up.”

I dropped my coffee and bolted.

When I arrived at the parking lot, I caught sight of my daughter: wheezing, her face swollen, eyes tightly shut. She looked sunburned and terrified, hives spreading across her arms and legs. My heart sank as I realized she was experiencing an anaphylactic reaction—an allergy to horses, which we had no idea she even had.

As an ICU nurse, I’ve trained for emergencies countless times, staying calm and collected while administering care. But this was different. This was my child, and she was in crisis right before my eyes. In a panic, I made the worst decision possible: I scooped her up and rushed her to our doctor’s office. As she gasped for air in the car, all my nursing training vanished. I was terrified, barely focused on the road, and by the time we reached the doctor’s office and she received her medication, I was horrified to realize I had only made things worse by not waiting for EMS.

In the following days, we faced numerous medications, steroid treatments, and multiple visits to the allergist. I tried to keep my fear at bay as test results revealed not just a life-threatening allergy to horses, but also a long list of food and environmental allergens her body was battling every day. Suddenly, we had a child grappling with serious medical issues that had somehow gone unnoticed for years.

Over the next few months, equipped with EpiPens and a newfound understanding of her triggers, we began educating those closest to us. Babysitters, troop leaders, and friends learned how to administer an epinephrine injection in emergencies. We collaborated with her school nurse and teachers to create a care plan for the school day. Most importantly, we empowered our daughter with knowledge about her diagnosis. We taught her to recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction and established a hand signal she could use if she was having trouble speaking. We even role-played scenarios so she would feel confident discussing her allergies with friends and teachers.

We did everything we could to make her allergies our family’s responsibility, not a burden on anyone else.

In today’s world, allergies seem to have become a trend. It feels like every other child has a peanut or milk allergy, leading to complaints about restrictions on homemade goodies in classrooms. Parents on both sides of the debate are quick to argue their points, but the reality is there are no easy answers.

As the mom of a child with allergies, I refuse to be “that” mom. I don’t ask for special treatment beyond what’s necessary for her safety. If we attend a party and she can’t eat something, she simply skips it and enjoys the company of her friends. I don’t make calls ahead for playdates to discuss her dietary needs; instead, I discreetly send her with safe food when I know a class party is coming up. We strive to approach her allergies as our challenge, not society’s. She’ll have to navigate these issues for the rest of her life, and it’s our job to ensure she feels empowered to do so. Expecting everyone to accommodate her long list of allergens just isn’t realistic.

People are often surprised to hear about her extensive allergies because we don’t make a habit of broadcasting her health issues. Her allergies are just a small part of her identity. I’d much rather share how she rocked the 400m race at her track meet or how adorable she looks in her new glasses. While I occasionally share experiences with other moms in similar situations, I’d prefer to chat about my latest writing project or what I bought at Target when I finally made it back without a horse interruption.

If you ever find yourself facing an allergic reaction with your child, here are a few essential tips:

1. Call 911. Let the professionals handle the driving so you can focus on your child.
2. Try to remember what your child ate and how much; this information can be crucial at the hospital.
3. Keep your child’s up-to-date height and weight in your phone for accurate dosing of emergency medications.

This article was originally published on May 9, 2016.

Summary:

In 2013, Emily Johnson’s daughter experienced a life-threatening allergic reaction to horses, an allergy they were unaware of. The panic led Emily to make a poor choice by rushing her daughter to the doctor instead of waiting for emergency services. After extensive testing revealed multiple allergies, the family educated themselves and their close circle about managing her condition. They approach her allergies as a family responsibility, empowering their daughter to navigate her health challenges confidently.

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