For the Sake of Science and American Girl Place
>> Monday, March 15, 2010
7 years old and already an old hat on the medical research circuit...that's life for an allergic kid with a pediatrician mom. We just finished our second research experience this weekend at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The first experience was a year ago for U of M, doing a fun 24 hour urine collection and a blood draw trying to see if there are other chemical markers for anaphylaxis (the answer is no, so we're all stuck with the problematic RAST for now). This time the study involved the whole family with the research goals to look at potential causes and genetic risks for food allergy.
The long and short of it was basic vital signs, a blood draw and skin testing for us all (our non-allergic kid was not pleased!) and then also spirometry and body fat measurements for those over age 6....plus a lot of questions. A lot of questions. Pregnancy and nursing histories on the kids all seem to run together, the matrix of who can and did eat what and when really gets complicated. Hopefully my memory serves science well.
But the fun part was a budget-neutral trip to Chicago with the kids and free RAST testing to be sent on to our allergist. The gas money was covered and we got a boatload of Target gift cards for our participation. We 'transfered' the gift cards into cash at American Girl Place for the girls and had a great end to our day serving humanity. The study is still recruiting families, if you're in the area and have to get RAST testing done this year anyway it's worth doing. Hopefully our next research experience will be as participants in a cure study...
HOLY COW!!!
7 comments:
Oh my! Poor little dude! So thankful we are allergy free (aside from seasonals). Definitely puts life in to perspective. It will be interesting if they find a familial tie.
that was really interesting! Do you mind me asking what number 3 was on his back? that was a big one. My son's were like that for peanut, hazlenut and egg
That one was peanut, he had an equally large one on his upper shoulder for milk. He's never been tested to peanut. At 12 months, our allergist tested only my suspicions due to exposure: milk, egg, wheat, barley. Those were whoppers and he turned to me and asked "Do we really need to go on? You're smart enough not to give him any nuts or fish." Such a practical allergist...hard to find these days.
Poor little guy! Bloodwork just seems so much more humane: one draw and it's over, rather than scratching and watching the hives grow.
By the way, big cookie congtrats! Looks like we both made it!
Libby, it looks like we were on a similar wavelength...as usual! I LOVE your idea, I wanted to do a brownie, but they kept crumbling and turning to sludge (freezer is full of dough failures). I finally gave up and went for the cookie. The funny part is, I don't think I even ate a whole cookie of the one I submitted, it was my last of three submitted recipes, after many failed attempts, I was getting a bit full as a taste tester, and I had a hour before submission time! Now I'm nervous, I need to make it again and see how it tasted!
It's heartbreaking to see a back like that. My daughter's testing was the same. Ouch!! So great others are involved in research!
Poor little guy...I am glad teh doctor was practical. I am from NJ but we have traveled to Childrens Memorial for 9 surgeries for my daughter. It is an amazing place. They offer amazing care and there is so much for the kiddos to do there, which made every trip tolerable for my daughter.
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