Speaking of Support....

Who is speaking of support? I am, all the time. Yesterday, I received a beautiful card from my colleagues, for which I am so grateful. It inspires me to try and express how much of a difference it makes to have support (in any way and form it can be given, nothing is too small of gesture for me to notice and appreciate, even if I don't always express that). I am comforted and strengthened by the support we receive, and have received through so much of this. As I said in a previous update, little man's daddy and I are not ones to ask for help. Again, our kids=our responsibility. So, when we began accepting help, our family and friends knew things must be tough. And they were. There are many times when they still are, but nothing compares to those days before diagnosis when it was a constant stress.

Simply put, I am not sure how we would be getting through all of this without the support from family and friends. Too many FPIES mommy's talk about how their family is unsupportive - mostly because they simply can not comprehend such a food allergy as FPIES. I am grateful everyday when I can turn and find support from so many directions: sisters who move in to help out, sisters who drop everything to be here when needed, family who calls or is available for a phone call to hear (yet again) another segment of little man's symptoms and struggles, friends who check in DAILY - just waiting for the day when I had good news to share, friends and family who remember us in their prayers and prayer groups, colleagues that pick up extra work because of my need to stay home with my ill child, colleagues who give great support and advice for a child with multiple food allergy's, our firefighter "family" continued support, neighbors who are available for babysitting and all the family and friends who have been a listening ear to my anxiety filled days when my little boy was so sick and no one knew why or how to make him better.

Thank you to all our family and friends that are helping us through this difficult time in our little man's life.

Another great avenue for support (besides this blog and my facebook page) has been the online support groups I am a part of (ok, I am a big part of - sort of in an addicted way!). The other FPIES mommy's have SO much knowledge, experience, insights, and just empathy for going through shared experiences. I have "met" so many great moms (and FPIES kiddo's) this way. I have found a few that live near us even! But there are one's that live across the country- and also across the ocean! We share a common ground and speak a common language- so much so that often feels like they are following me around, our kids go through so many of the same things!

That will bring us right into my next post....Mom driven diagnosis....