Allergy Awareness Week: Our Family’s Story (Part Two)
- Yinka Okello
- May 1
- 5 min read
A Journey of Love, Learning and Growing Together
If you missed Part One of our story, you can catch up [here]. In Part One, we shared how our daughter’s early diagnosis of food allergies reshaped our family life. In Part Two, we continue the journey — from new challenges to unexpected blessings — and how our family has grown through it all.
In Part One, I shared how our daughter’s food allergies changed our family’s life from the early days — the emotional toll, the hospital appointments, and the impact it had even on her brother. But as with so many things in life, the story didn’t stop there.
Food allergies have a way of weaving themselves into everyday life. They become part of your family’s vocabulary, your rhythms, your celebrations, your anxieties — and, surprisingly, sometimes your greatest joys too.
A New Chapter: Our Son’s Diagnosis
Just when we thought we were finding our feet, another unexpected turn came.
Our son, who had never shown any signs of allergies as a baby or young child, began to complain of stomach aches. He was ten years old — well past the toddler stage when most food allergies tend to show themselves. He had been eating peanut butter sandwiches for years without any issue, so when he started saying he didn’t feel right after certain meals, it didn’t immediately click for us.
At first, we thought it might just be a phase, or perhaps a shift in his eating habits. He had always been slightly selective with food — nothing out of the ordinary. But something niggled at me. A mother’s instinct, perhaps. We decided to arrange a private allergy test — I just needed some clarity. The results came back, and they changed everything once again.
Our son tested positive for several allergens — including nuts (with peanuts being a major allergen) and pollen. It was a strange, bittersweet moment. On the one hand, we were relieved to have answers. On the other hand, it meant a whole new adjustment, not just for him but for all of us. In many ways, we were starting all over again — learning, adapting, and rethinking the way we lived our daily lives.
The second time round, I’ll be honest — it hit differently. There was still sadness, of course. Sadness for the foods he could no longer enjoy, for the added layer of vigilance now woven into his teenage years, for the extra anxiety he would carry. But there was also a deep sense of resilience. We knew the road we were about to walk, and while it wasn’t an easy one, it wasn’t unknown anymore. We had tools we didn’t have the first time: knowledge, experience, and most of all, faith. And so, we held onto that — tightly.
We reminded our son (and ourselves) often that life, with all its bumps and bruises, is never without purpose. That even the difficult parts — especially the difficult parts — are held within a bigger plan, one designed by our God who does not let go.
There were days when it was hard to believe that. Days when frustration or fear felt bigger than hope. And on those days, it was often our children who reminded us. Their simple, steady faith was like a mirror — reflecting back the truth we had spoken into them during their younger years: "God has a plan, even when we can’t see it."
Allergies and Family Life: The Bigger Picture
When food allergies come into your family life, they touch almost everything. Meal planning becomes a careful, deliberate process. Eating out can feel like preparing for battle — reading menus in advance, calling ahead, carrying wipes, EpiPens, and snacks just in case.
Simple traditions, like baking birthday cakes or hosting holiday meals, take on new layers of preparation and creativity. Every social invitation comes with a mental checklist: Will there be safe food? Should we bring our own? Will others understand? And beyond the food itself, there's the emotional load. The quiet scan of every room you walk into. The subtle way you learn to stay a step ahead — for your child’s safety, yes, but also for their dignity.
Because no child should have to feel like an inconvenience just because of the way their body works. It’s exhausting at times. It’s isolating at times. But it also builds something remarkable within your family — a fierce kind of togetherness, an unspoken loyalty, an everyday kind of courage.
Our children have grown up knowing that being different isn’t something to be ashamed of. That kindness, patience, and understanding are choices you make every day, not just when it’s easy. And that sometimes, the most important victories are the quiet ones no one else sees.
Faith as Our Anchor
Through it all, our faith has been our anchor. It hasn’t removed the struggles. Neither has it magically erased the hard days, or the mistakes we’ve made along the way. But it has given us a place to stand — something solid underneath when everything else felt uncertain.
We have always reminded our children — and ourselves — that God’s plans are good, even when they don't look or feel the way we expected. That He is with us not just on the mountaintops, but in the valleys, the hospital rooms, the long nights of worry, and the moments of overwhelming gratitude.
There is a verse we often return to as a family: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Holding onto that promise has been a lifeline. And in those quiet moments when we feel worn thin, it’s often our children who gently remind us — with a wisdom beyond their years — that we are held.
What We’ve Learned
Looking back now, I can say without hesitation that living with food allergies has shaped our family in ways we never could have imagined. It has taught us resilience — the quiet, steady, everyday kind. It has taught us empathy — to see beyond ourselves and into the lives of others. It has deepened our faith — not because life became easier, but because it became more real. And it has bound us together — not perfectly, not without friction, but in a way that feels rooted and strong.
This journey hasn’t been what we would have chosen, but it has grown things in us we wouldn’t trade for anything.
A Word to Others Walking This Road
If you are just starting out on your own allergy journey — whether as a parent, a sibling, or someone living with allergies yourself — please know that you are not alone. It can feel overwhelming at first. It can feel isolating. But there is so much hope ahead. You will find your rhythms. You will build your village — whether that’s a few kind-hearted friends, a trusted GP, an online community, or simply your own little family becoming a fortress of strength and compassion. And most of all — know that there is beauty in this life too. Not because it is easy, but because it is rich with purpose.
You were not given this road by accident. And you are not walking it alone.
We know every family's journey with allergies looks a little different, but if anything we've shared resonates with you, we'd love to hear from you. Sharing our stories reminds us that none of us walk this road alone. Thank you for being part of our community.
At Marisola Parlour, we specialise in gluten-free (gf), vegan baked goods that are made without wheat, eggs, dairy, or nuts. We use unrefined sugars and natural food dyes to ensure our treats are packed full of nutrients as they are delicious. If you have any questions or special requests, please don't hesitate to reach out. We love making your dessert dreams come true!
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