Miraculous Recovery (SWC)

I want to contribute to this great contest with a story about our youngest son Sam. Sam is 12 years old at this moment and is his young life already had his share of misery. But first a bit about Sam for you to get to know him. Sam is a cheerfull smart little guy whith his own way of dealing with things. We know that now, but have seen it several times in the past. Next year he is going to a new school for seconday eduction bi-langual. (English and dutch of which 80% is English.) We are very proud of Sam (and offcourse also of his brother who is two years older.).

It all started while Sam was still a baby. While he was fed we saw eczema rising on his face in a terrible way. It itched and he scratched it til it bursted. It was all over his body. Ofcourse we went to the doctor and they said that he was allergic of milk and products made out of milk. So we had to buy substitudes for cow-milk, no problem ofcourse. Every night we had to rub him with a special ointment fort he itching. After a while my wife and I were sitting in the livingroom while the kids we in bed, suddenly we heard a gurgling sound and Sam was starting to cry. We hurried upstairs to his room and it was if he was chocking, so we immediatley called the hospital. They asked us to come tot he hospital (it is 500 meters from our house). At the hospital they gave Sam an injection with adrenaline cause they suspected he had a allergic reaction for on or a other substance. His throat was all swolen, so we came just in time. He could have choked cause his throat and tonque we’re completely swollen.

In the hospital they did some tests to see for which substances he’s allergic. And what we feared became truth, he was allergic to many substances:

• Birch
• Grass
• Milk
• Peanuts
• Other nuts
• Sesame

At that time we didn’t worrie a lot cause there are a lot of people with allergies, so we thought we’ll manage. But dealing in real life with it makes it a bit more complicated cause you have to keep Sam away for all the things he is allergic to. If he only comes in contact with these substances it could be life-threatening. In the beginning it was manageable cause he wasn’t going to school yet. But when he did we had to prepare everything. We had an Epi-pen for his teachers, that is a injector with adrenaline in case he go tan attack. At school they weren’t used to this and they we’re a bit scared to used it in case of, so we gave them a training on how to use the pen.
It was always difficult for Sam to participate in festivities at school where food or drinks where involved. You won’t believe how many products contains milk, nuts or sesame. Almost anything. When Sam got invited for birthdaypartys other parent always have to take his allergies into account. Some parents didn’t want that responsability of which in one way I can understand, but in the other way…it is so frustrating for him…being different than his friends…
We still were under supervision of the hospital where Sam was undergoing different tests to see if the allergies where declining. He had to take provocation tests where they add the substances on purpose to look if his reaction to it is still as heavy as before… onfortunatly that was the case.

We had resigned ourselves tot he fact that he has to live with this for the rest of his life. As years go by we we’re getting used tot he fact that whith our groceries we have to read the ingredients every single time and that the ammount of products he can have are minimal. You can’t imagine how man product contain Sesame or nuts.
If it wasn’t enough already Sam had an accident in our garden. He fell out of our trampoline and broke his elbow. In the local hospital they didn’t made the wrong diagnosis what caused that Sam had to go to surgery 5 times.

He even had to go to Germany for one surgery. In the local hospital had give him surgery right away problems weren’t been as big as they are now. His arm is deformed and he has less functionality. As a parent that hurts a lot knowing that his future is determined by a fault of the hospital. But Sam is a positive little fellow and lives with the limitations like if they arent there. Biggest of respect for him.
Every three months we visit the hospital to test his allergies. And every single time is tests positive so he stays allergic. The doctor told us that is is almost impossible to cure from it cause he is to old already (in terms of medicial history and research). Finding the right groceries where getting more and more difficult because manufacturers of food are covering themselves more and more by stating on the package that it “could” contain substances known for it’s allergy….
As Sam gets older he got more of a problem with his ‘illness’ cause his friends can eat/drink everthing and Sam can’t. When we are at a restaurant, we have to ask them for a allergy card and look after the food we order ourselves. On Holidays, Sam couldn’t eat anything he would like… So he was getting more and more difficulties wit hit. I felt heartbroken to see him like that… I would do anything to give him a ‘normal’live… But it wasn’t up to us…..
After our last holiday Sam asked us if he could take another provocation test. He felt like he could conquer the world.. We tried to temper his thoughts but he was determined. So we called his doctor and she take a look at his last tests. She said to us that it was unlikely that the allergy values where lower than his last test and that we had to prepare Sam for disapointment but that she was willing to please him by doing the test. So we did it. with the provocation test they are feeding him with the substances of which he is allergic, every time (during a whole day, every half an hour) the increase the amount of substance.
When Sam ate the first dosis we where very nervous….cause of the disapointment it would bring to him, but miraculous nothing happend. After the second, third and fourth still nothing happend. I was happy but tempered. Sam said “I told you so” , I had to laugh a little.. The doctor checked Sam and was as much as suprised as we we’re. So she increased the dosis again for 5 times. At the end of the day she could’nt conclude antything else that Sam’s allergy for all the substances disapeard. A miraculous recovery.
Still realizing what just happend we went home. My wife and I we’re really blown away by this situation. No more “being different “ for Sam with food and drinks, but also scared… What if it was just fort he moment and he is still allergic? What a disapointment it would bef or him….
We promised Sam to go to McDonald cause he had never eatn there, and often when there was a birthday party from one of his classmates they would go there…. So he was very eager to have a bite there. At first he was a bit scared, and no wonder ofcourse, but after a burger with a lot of sesame nothing happend. So we we’re thrilled for him. It opened doors to everything, no more separation at school, no precautions when he goes for a sleepparty…no more reading on ingredients…. At once all that was history, and for us and Sam een miraculous recovery. Although it looks like a small thing, this has dictated his whole life… and that is long for a yougster.
And we, as parents…we are so happy for him, besides his arm his life is getting more and more like the life his friends live…and at this age that is really something.

A miracle of which we didn’t expect it to happen anymore did happen…It makes life so much easier for him, especially after al the hassle is already has been for him... This story is dedicated to Sam, proud for him being my son, respect how he has dealt with his struggles..

Thank you very much for reading.

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I will do all in the world for my kids, let's make this a cool world so at least we have fun.....