I remember when Claire was first diagnosed with her food allergies and an EpiPen was thrown at us. At that moment I was thinking, "God can take this away." I really believed it, I believed it could happen that second - if that's what He chose. I told someone (can't remember who) that God can heal Claire. Lovingly their response was, "One day, maybe one day." NO - God can heal her now - right now. I know I got defensive, shocking right?! I have refused to accept Claire's diagnosis as "forever".
Yesterday Claire and I headed off to Dallas, just the two of us. We really had a great, fast trip there. Rewind: over the last several weeks God prompted me to ask about her shellfish allergy. Really hasn't been brought up since being in Dallas. So, I asked Dr Silvers and he agreed to retest her there at our next increase. Present Day: I whisper to the front desk that we need to have Claire tested for shellfish and to PLEASE keep it quiet. Claire's anxiety when it comes to testing is pretty severe. We go back to the exam room and her sweet nurse walks in with the shellfish paraphernalia. Claire immediately begins to breathe heavy and tear up. I assure her the best I can and snuggle her head, since the nurse needs her on her stomach to test. She takes it like a champ and we wait.
I'm watching her like a hawk. Her last skin test sent her into anaphylactic shock. Nothing was happening though. NOTHING. You couldn't see the test area except it was wet from the allergen. Zero swelling. We wait the 20 minutes and the nurse comes in and cleans off her back and there are no hives. She's never tested negative before. My head was spinning. Dr Silvers walks in and says, "well, looks like she grew out of her shellfish allergy. You can do a food challenge at home when you're ready. I don't foresee anything happening!" What? Let me get this straight, not only are we working to rid her of her life threatening peanut allergy, but now I am hearing that she has outgrown her life threatening shellfish allergy???? Too much to process. God healed her. Completely healed her, in His time. Not mine.
Claire takes her dose increase (250mg), we wait for 45 minutes and head out. I am still in shock. Part of me wants to send that stupid mama flowers that went to the school board and started all this crap. If it were not for her, we wouldn't be anywhere near this. The other part is still irritated that someone could be that dumb - so she's not getting flowers. ha!!
By the time school starts Claire will be eating several peanuts a day, twice a day. That is, if all continues to go as planned. This morning her throat was itching and her chest got really tight. But, after lying down for a minute under the fan, it started getting better. We will stay on this dose for 2 weeks before we increase to our last capsule! The thought of her putting a peanut in her mouth makes me lose my breath. But, the Lord has gotten us this far, I have no doubt He will get us to the finish line. I don't know if everyone can understand what this means for her, for us. Food will no longer be a threat to her life. It's not that we can eat out more, but she can DO more. She couldn't do gymnastics like she wants because her allergies. The close setting and cross contamination made it impossible. Her allergens were everywhere. Sunday School was not an option for the same reason. Sleep overs weren't even discussed. A boy kissing her for the first time (in 10 years). Her life will become limitless.
One step closer to Claire's Peanut Party!!! Please continue to pray, Claire is still have stomach problems with her doses as well. She is such a strong little girl!!! And, just let me say Cole is ecstatic about the shrimp entering back into our diets!
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