A letter to Kylie Jenner…From one allergy mum to another

Dear Kylie

You don’t know me and it may appear at first that we don’t have much in common. You are a young, international celebrity and reality star, with a glamorous life in America. I am a 30-something mum who lives down a farm track in the UK and wears wellies to walk the dog most days.

However, in one area of life, I know how you feel.

I saw you post about your daughter Stormi being rushed to hospital with an allergic reaction last week.

I’ve been there.

When my son was the same age, 15 months old, he also had a severe allergic reaction. I have watched his little face swell, his body erupt in hives and listened to him struggle to breath.

I know how scary, overwhelming and intense it can feel. I know you are probably in a state of shock, trying to process what happened and worrying about how you will keep your daughter safe.

So I wanted to offer you some advice, from one allergy mum to another. Here are the things I wished I had known in those early days:

1. It’s not your fault. There are so many factors that can contribute to your child developing allergies and there is not one individual thing you could or couldn’t have done to prevent it.

2. You are not alone. There are millions of other mums in America and around the world who are facing allergies and the same challenges and emotions.

3. Inform yourself. Seek out a good allergist, read trusted resources and make sure you have a strong care plan and understand how and when you need to use medication.

4. Don’t panic. This one is easier said than done, I know, but there are plenty of practical steps you can take to keep your daughter safe and adapt to your new normal.

5. Find a support network. It take a village to raise a child, especially an allergic one. So talk to people in the same position and help educate your friends and family about how they can support you.

6. It gets easier. I’ll admit, the anxiety never completely goes away (although this is true for parenting in general!) but you will become more confident in handling it and learning to deal with new situations.

7. Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t. Cultivate an attitude that looks at ‘how’ you can do something rather than ‘if’ you can do it as with a little preparation, most things are possible.

I hope that helps. None of us wanted to be part of this growing community dealing with allergies and there is thankfully ongoing research, emerging treatments and hopefully, one day there will be a cure.

Until then, know that you are not alone and there are millions of mums out there who udnerstand what you’re going through.

You’ve got this!

Emma x