Meet Lara

Living with a child who suffers from allergies means you constantly worry about your child’s food intake and surroundings. You never know when the allergic reactions will set in and how extreme they may get.

Melissa, mother of nine-year-old Lara, said she, too, suffered from allergies as a child and was treated by doctors at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.

So, she was not surprised to learn that her baby, who had just turned a year old at the time, had Asthma. Baby Lara’s Asthma was treated by a paediatrician for a short while, but by the time she turned two Lara’s Asthma appeared to be fine.

However, just three years later, at the age of 5, Lara’s Asthma resurfaced.

“It was during winter, and it was cold. Lara had the flu. Her chest started closing up on her and she was having difficulties in breathing.

“I remember thinking that her Asthma has been triggered,” Melissa recalls.

Lara was taken to Red Cross Hospital’s Emergency Centre and while she was in the waiting area, she noticed that her daughter’s condition had changed.

“Her breathing was getting better, but her eyes were now tearing, and she was itching uncontrollably. I was confused by what was happening,” Melissa says.

The quick-thinking doctor on call noticed Lara was not okay and promptly ordered Lara’s blood tests to be taken. The results showed that Lara had food allergies and Chronic Asthma.

She was given antihistamines: medicines to relieve symptoms of allergies as well as Epinephrine in the form of the popularly known, EpiPen. The EpiPen is used in emergencies to treat very serious allergies. It works quickly to improve breathing, stimulate the heart, and raise dropping blood pressure.

Once every two months, Lara would come to the Allergy Clinic for a check-up, but since her health has shown such a steady improvement, her appointments have been adjusted to once every quarter.

“Lara has not had an Asthma attack, not once. Even the allergies are being monitored closely, so I have a lot of hope for my child’s healing journey. It’s one less thing to worry about when her health is under control,” Melissa smiles gratefully.

Full of cheer now, this mom says she owes her daughter’s good health to the nurses and doctors at the hospital.

“Over the year we have built a rapport with them. They are amazing, friendly, and kind. Everyone is nothing but helpful. They are dedicated to helping the little ones.”

When we make children better, we make families better. The Children’s Hospital leaves no child behind. And the Allergy Clinic extends its reach to children in some of the furthest communities to ensure that every child gets better.