10/29/2025
This boy is the face behind the “why.” (And his sweet older brother)
This sweet boy was just under a year old when we discovered he was severely allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. But that wasn’t the end of the list. We soon learned he was also allergic to dairy, egg, wheat, soy, and shellfish.
When we found out, it felt like our entire world changed — because, in reality, it did. Everything we knew about food was turned upside down overnight. Our pantry had to be wiped clean, and our new journey began: reading every label, carrying EpiPens everywhere we went, and facing those dreaded allergy testing appointments.
What we didn’t expect was how hard it would be to live in a world that still lacks understanding about food allergies. With that came pushback, harsh comments, and moments of defeat.
Over the years, we’ve learned just how important spreading awareness truly is — and how frightening Halloween can be for kids with food allergies. Many families simply choose to skip trick-or-treating altogether.
That’s when we attended an allergy-friendly event out of town, and it sparked an idea for my husband and me to try hosting something similar here at home. We never dreamed it would take off the way it has or that we’d receive so much love and support.
There were so many hands involved in bringing this event to life — too many to thank individually, though we’re doing our best to try. We are beyond grateful for every bit of help, encouragement, and kindness shown to us.
Our hope is to continue this tradition next year, spreading awareness and creating a fun, safe, and inclusive event that offers allergen-friendly options for all kids.
