(In honor of you, our friends of Fishhook, Jen P.’s gift is going to The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.)

For many, some of the highlights of Christmas celebrations are meals with family and friends and of course, mouthwatering desserts of all kinds. For others, navigating the food issue at the holidays is a nightmare. FAAN, the world’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to food allergy awareness, education and advocacy, makes life a little sweeter, and a lot less scary for families and individuals who deal with life-threatening food allergies all year long.

Who knew one little bite could kill?
The day after Thanksgiving 2007, my husband and I gave our 13-month-old son a piece of waffle with peanut butter smeared on top. Seemed like such a harmless thing to do. Within minutes our son was struggling to breathe, his face covered in hives. After hours at the emergency room and multiple tests, we learned of his life-threatening allergy to peanuts and tree nuts (cashews, almonds, etc.). We also learned that had we not sought immediate medical attention, our son could have died from anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that happens fast and can kill.

Left to untangle this diagnosis on our own, we felt completely lost. We never knew anyone with food allergies this severe. We had no idea how to navigate things like restaurants, preschool, training caretakers, traveling and a host of other issues that are simple for most families.

An allergist pointed us in the direction of FAAN, the worldwide leader in bringing science-based, practical, accurate and timely information to the millions affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis. The resources offered online and the local support networks have been invaluable.