Ep. 38 - Claiming Victory Over Food Allergies: Hillary Tolle Carter on Reactions, Resilience & Reinvention

Moms, when your kid’s next meal could send them to the ER-or worse-every bite matters. This is the reality for children with life threatening food allergies and the parents who spend every waking moment trying to keep them safe. May is Food Allergy Awareness month and our guest this week is Hillary Tolle Carter, a food allergy mom and passionate advocate. Her two sons were diagnosed with 35 and 14 allergies, respectively. While Hillary once felt overwhelmed and anxious navigating the daunting list of dangerous foods, she is now celebratory and encouraging thanks to her boys’ progress with OIT, or Oral Immunotherapy.  Hillary isn’t a doctor and does not offer medical advice. What he shares is her own family’s experience with OIT and her subsequent decision to invest in the food allergy treatment center called Latitude. Our conversation includes:* why Hillary is adamant that caregivers find their own support system and outlet* how the chronic stress of navigating allergies left her devastated and physically ill* the reason why OIT has been transformational for her sons and the independence treatment has given them* why Hillary now considers allergies a gift for her family and how she found a new purpose because of them* the delicate balance between accepting our kids’ limitations and fighting fiercely to change themThe resources that Hillary champions for allergies are FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) and FAACT (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team). Hillary is an investor and Board Member at Latitude Food Allergy Care. Follow her on IG @hillarytollecarter and learn more at hillarytollecarter.comFind Demetra at thelocalmomsnetwork.comFollow us on IG @thelocalmomsnetworkSend us your ideas for our next podcast!Email [email protected]