Young Girl Faces Severe Allergies: A Family’s Struggle for Safety
The Challenge of Food Allergies
A two-year-old girl, Seren, grapples with life-threatening allergies that compel her parents to test new foods in the parking lot of a hospital. This precautionary measure is taken to ensure immediate medical assistance is available should she experience an anaphylactic reaction.
Gemma Whatling, Seren’s mother, and her husband Nick have resorted to trying various foods—such as almonds and prawns—outside the emergency department after facing delays in ambulance response due to severe allergic reactions at home. “It provides us with peace of mind knowing we can swiftly get her help if needed,” shared Gemma, 42, from Vale of Glamorgan.
Early Signs and Diagnosis
The couple first suspected that Seren had allergies when she was just three months old. They noticed persistent eczema and skin irritation that proved difficult to manage. Following medical advice, they cautiously introduced new foods into Seren’s diet. Unfortunately, their worst fears were realized when she suffered her first anaphylactic shock at eight months old after consuming cow’s milk.
Since then, Seren has required EpiPen treatment on six occasions. While some food items must be tested under medical supervision at a hospital—like certain nuts or shellfish—the family has been advised they can try others like chickpeas or lentils at home.
“It’s challenging to pinpoint specific food triggers,” Gemma explained. “We feel anxious about introducing these items without immediate access to a hospital.”
Limited Resources for Allergy Care
In some instances where they felt it necessary for safety reasons, Gemma and Nick have conducted food trials in the hospital parking lot due to its proximity to emergency care facilities. Although they praise NHS staff for their support during these critical moments, Gemma notes that allergy services are limited across different health boards in Wales.
Currently, there are only two specialized NHS allergy clinics led by members of the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) located in Cardiff—a stark contrast compared to over 100 such facilities available across England.
The family hopes to conduct an “oral food challenge” soon—a procedure designed to determine whether a child has specific food allergies—but they find themselves on a waiting list at another health board since this service isn’t offered where they live.
The Emotional Toll on Families
Describing life with a child who has severe allergies as “incredibly daunting,” Gemma expressed concern over how unpredictable reactions can be: “Just because she’s managed small amounts before doesn’t guarantee she’ll tolerate them again.” This uncertainty leads their anxiety levels through the roof.
Seren attends nursery several times each week; her parents strive diligently to provide her with as normal a childhood as possible despite these challenges. “We meticulously prepare all her meals,” said Gemma. “We plan ahead so she feels included.”
Advocacy for Better Allergy Services
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation emphasizes that allergies represent serious health risks capable of being life-threatening if not properly managed. Founder Tanya Laperouse advocates for appointing an allergy tsar within the UK government whose role would focus on addressing what she describes as an “allergy epidemic.” She believes this position could help increase access points for specialized care so families do not need travel extensive distances seeking treatment.
In response, the Welsh government acknowledged its responsibility lies within individual health boards regarding planning and delivering adequate allergy services according to guidelines set forth by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). They also recognize disparities exist among different regions’ provisions and are currently conducting assessments aimed at identifying gaps in service availability along with wait times experienced by patients seeking care.
