Friends with Allergies

Test: Moving site to

MKI — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:24:50 +0000

Friends with Allergies on Blogspot -> friendswithallergies.blogspot.com so please come check it out.
Thanks!

LonelyPlate.org

MKI — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:03:26 +0000

Sharing yet one more note that came around via our local mailing list. I’m sure Sharona, the original writer wouldn’t mind the publicity! Check out the website (www.lonelyplate.org) and post a review of businesses you’ve visited!

Greetings Support Group Leaders,

To introduce myself, up until a year and a half ago, I was News Coverage Manager at CNN’s Washington Bureau where beyond my daily news responsibilities I produced many stories on food allergies with chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. You can find online some of the TV transcripts and CNN.com articles I wrote on the subject, including a report on Sabrina Shannon, which won a number of journalism awards, including from FAAN.

I became interested in the subject after my daughter was diagnosed with multiple food allergies (at the time, allergic to all major allergens + a few).
I’m writing you as I’m in the process of launching a website where families with food allergic kids/parents can write reviews about restaurants they visit. There are fantastic online resources reviewing restaurants and hotels, (Tripadvisor, Yelp, VirtualTourist, etc.) but because I couldn’t find any that consolidated the experiences of those with food allergies, I decided to create an interactive database where we can review restaurants, hotels, airlines, and kid-friendly venues (like Disney). Wouldn’t it be great to give a shout out to a place that did a great job helping your child have a safe meal, or warn others of a place to stay away from at all cost?

The web address is www.lonelyplate.org. I’m asking friends and food allergy support group members to publish the first posts or send me (so I can post for them) reviews of businesses they’ve visited. This kind of information-sharing is crucial not only to keep each other safe but also can be a message to restaurants that we are a consumer community worth catering to.

Among the Washington, D.C. support group members, we have been exchanging this kind of information for years (as I know many of you do in your locales), but we never shared this information with food allergic families in other cities and countries, something I aim to accomplish.

Looking forward to hearing from you. I’d appreciate it if you could distribute this email to your group members.

Best wishes,
Sharona Schwartz

Volunteer to speak at a PSD School Board Meeting

MKI — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:54:57 +0000

Catherine is soliciting volunteers to speak at the Poudre School District School Board Meetings.
For more information, please contact her as well as check out the PSD website: psdschools.org click on Board of Education

Dear Members,

Attached is an update on Poudre School District School Board Meeting speaking schedule. We are slowly filling spots. My goal is to have 1 parent speak with each Dr. that signs up. Currently, I have 1 Dr. that I would like to match with a parent.

The speaking schedule was created to inform School Board about food allergies. An educated School Board can make better decisions….

Thank you,
Catherine

Advocating for Food Allergy Management in Poudre School District

RE: Implementation of SB09-226 Why it is important to Poudre School District

School Board Meetings 6:30 pm Boardroom Johansen Support Services Center 2407 LaPorte Ave.

Tuesday March 23- Doctor: Dr. Kujawska/Someone HERE?

Tuesday April 27- Doctor: Dr. James/Parent: R.T.

*Please watch for changes in meeting schedule via: psdschools.org click on Board of Education

Congratulations Amy!

MKI — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:50:30 +0000

Dear Members,

Amy Asher RN for Poudre School District was awarded the FAAN scholarship to attend the National School Nurse Conference in Chicago in June! If she is your school nurse or you know her give her a CONGRATULAIONS and thank you for taking the time to learn more about managing food allergies in school!

From Catherine

Next Meeting – March 2nd, 2010

MKI — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:48:49 +0000

Tuesday March 2, 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM at The Learning House 3533 Riva Ridge Dr. Fort Collins

Managing Food Allergies in School
Nancy Weber Health Services Coordinator for Poudre School District
Nicole Smith the drive behind the Colorado Bill Managing Food Allergies in Colorado Schools, and Founder of Allergicchild.com

This meeting will be very informative. Nicole is driving from Colorado Springs to share information about how the bill will impact managing food allergies in Colorado schools. I encourage anyone that has children in public or charter schools to attend.

For more information:
Catherine 226-6181

Link to Article:”7 Factors That Contribute to Food Allergy”

MKI — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:39:19 +0000

Throught the “Kids With Food Allergies” mailing list came through an article which I hope to take deeper look at later: “7 Factors That Contribute to Food Allergy“

New Year I-CAN Happenings

MKI — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:51:19 +0000

Forwarding a message for our local friends (& beyond).
Happy New Year 2010 !!

Dear Members,

I hope this finds everyone doing well. Following are updates and happenings with I-CAN.

Updates:

Tuesday January 5th @ 6:00 pm member chat: Viewing of the movie “Food, Inc”, a documentary about food processesing. This is a casual gathering at my place. Call me at 226-6181 if you plan on attending.

Tuesday March 2nd @ 6:00 pm Children with Food Allergies in school. Speakers:
Nancy Webber, Head Nurse for PSD-Speaking about what measures are in place in PSD.
Nicole Smith-The main drive behind the CO bill passed last year which will be passed down to all school districts in CO in January 2010 and policies in place July 2010. Also the creator of allergicchild.com. Nicole will be speaking about the bill and what it means. Nicole is traveling from Colorado Springs to speak with us. This meeting will be very informative and I highly recommend attending.

Happening:

1. Sometime January-July the PSD School Board (other districts as well) will be reviewing Bill SB09-226 and deciding if they want to add anything to the baseline policy written by Colorado Department of Education regarding managing food allergies in CO schools. This is a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for parents to give input before policy is completed. In Poudre School District there is talk about a group forming to educate school board members about food allergies in school. This is what is may look like: Speakers signed up to speak at each school board meeting January thru May. At each meeting there will be 1-2 Doctors speaking about the facts and statistics and 2-3 parents speaking about their experience. This effort would bring much needed attention to the subject of food allergies in school and educate members on the importance of managing food allergies in school. You may already be aware that there are a few vocal parents working hard towards creating “awareness” in PSD, BUT these parents can’t do it alone. Numbers speak volumes on the need to take this issue seriously. Contact me if you are interested in particpating or know a Dr./friend who may be interested ASAP. Other ways you can help: Contact school board members: 1. Send email stating concerns and what you would like to see happen in PSD 2. Email and set up a “coffee” visit. School Board members are very approachable and represent you! Members contact can be found via PSD Website.

Happy New Year!
Catherine Teck
226-6181

Allergy Friendly Egg Hunting!

MKI — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:03:37 +0000

Easter Egg Hunt I-CAN

Inspiring Children with Allergies Network

Allergy Friendly

Saturday April 11th 10:30 AM

Rolland Moore Park by jungle gym

*Plastic eggs filled with non-food items

*2 age groups: 4 and under and 5+

Please bring 5 plastic filled eggs per child attending

(stickers, coins, stamps, erasers, balls, etc.)

Dress for weather

For more information: Catherine 226-6181

New Epi-injector in the future?

MKI — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:44:30 +0000

A credit card size, cell phone thickness epi injector is under development. Developed by twin brothers who are allergic, this seems like a nice product, easy to carry around. Take a preview at this Intelliject website.

My personal wish is just so we don’t have to throw away such expensive devices, in case they were not used, or after they were used. If there ever might be a way to recycle or do something, without sending them to the landfill, I’d feel even more comfortable….

“Studies Show Children Can Complete Treatment for Peanut Allergies and Achieve Long-Term Tolerance”

MKI — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:36:01 +0000

Studies Show Children Can Complete Treatment for Peanut Allergies and Achieve Long-Term Tolerance

From Duke Medicine.
(Still dealing with sick kids…)