West Georgia Food Allergy Support Group is a non profit, volunteer support group for individuals and families living with food allergies in nearby communities. The site is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
First, I would like to personally thank Jennifer Addington for being so encouraging. Jennifer helped so much in the process of not only getting the website going, newspaper, but with Jade. She also has a support group for Northeast Georgia. Please be sure to “Like” her FB Page, and follow her blog. Jennifer, your heart is full of love. Thank you so much, you helped me through some rough times and I can’t wait to meet you at the FARE Walk 2013 Atlanta.
Jenna Bearden reached out to the local communities to share her story of her daughter, Jade Bearden.
Time’s Georgian – Fit For Life – Pg 5 Published: September 18th
I am interested in bringing awareness to our communities about how life threatening food allergies can be. My daughter, Jade Bearden, 5-years-old, as a life threatening food allergy to Tree Nuts. We have no family history of any kind to food allergies. The first time my daughter ate Tree Nuts she knew something wasn’t right. She was 4-years-old crying, telling us to take her to the doctor, or the hospital. Her tongue was swelling. I immediately gave her benadryl and took her home. I had no clue that food allergies could be so serious. By the time we got home she was broken out in hives about 1/4in raised on her skin where her clothes touched, as well as her scalp. We got into the car and began to get her to the ER, during the ride she was passing out on us. I had to nudge her for her to stay awake, and some-what alert. When we got to the ER, her speech was slurred, drooling, and her tongue was swollen worse than before. They got us into the back room and injected her with an Epi-pen, hooked her up to a heart machine, and watched blood oxygen rates. Now at age 5, Jade Bearden is dangerously allergic to Tree Nuts: Almond, Beechnut, Brazil nut, Bush nut, Butternut, Cashew, Chestnut, Coconut (is actually a fruit, but FDA says Tree Nut), Filbert, Ginko nut, Hazelnut, Hickory nut, Lichee nut, Macadamia nut, Nangai nut, Pecan, Pine nut Pistachio, Shea nut, & Walnut. Jade could blister when she comes in contact, or stop breathing if one microscopic allergen got into her blood system. Food Allergies have went up to 50% since 2009. We are going to Atlanta September 29th to the FARE Walk, so we can get other support throughout the state.
~Jenna Bearden
West Georgia Food Allergy Support Group 