Asher's Big Adventure

I've written before about Asher's food allergies. A year ago, he was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis, which is a fancy word for food allergy.

Traditionally, when you think about an allergic reaction, you think about, perhaps, watery eyes or sneezing or itching. Those are reactions that occur on the outside of your body. Asher's allergic reactions happen inside his body: his esophagus, and perhaps his intestines and bowel. The reactions do not occur immediately - we find out about them about two weeks after he's eaten a food when he vomits or stops eating. It makes diagnosing very difficult. We have some ideas, but we don't know exactly to what he's allergic.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a relatively newly discovered disease - about 10 years old. Prior to 10 years ago, they simply thought that it was reflux that didn't respond to medicine. There is a lot that the medical profession still doesn't know about it. And there are only three centers for pediatric eosinophilc disease in the country. We've been seeking medical help nearby, but we need more. So we're taking Asher to Cincinnati Children's Hospital for further medical help.

For the past seven or eight weeks, I had been trying to make an appointment at Cincinnati Children's. I was just about to give up and make an appointment at one of the other two EE centers when I received a call late Monday afternoon. There was a cancellation next week; can we make it? A resounding YES was the reply and we've been scrambling to collect medical records, biopsy slides, arrange travel and hotel and prepare for the trip.

We decided that Raj and Asher were going to make this journey alone. Logically, it makes sense. With all kids in tow, it becomes a zoo and then we can't concentrate on Asher. We wouldn't be able to ask the questions we need of the doctors or help Asher with his medical procedures. Best for Raj to take Asher alone.

So now Raj and Asher are making their way to Cincinnati. Asher has appointments all week long there. On Monday, he'll have an endoscopy and colonoscopy - to examine the extent of the damage. (We had just assumed that the allergy is strictly in his esophagus, but as we answered the nurses questions, it seems like his allergy might also be in his intestine and bowel.) Tuesday is the allergy testing. Wednesday they have a day off, then Thursday they get the allergy tests read and get a plan of action from the doctor. Friday, is the result of the patch (allergy) tests. Then they'll make their way home on Saturday again. Phew!

For those who suffer from this disease, I'll chronicle Asher's journey here. I hope it helps you.