Iris’ sesame challenge: How she overcame her lifelong allergy
For eight years, we’ve lived with sesame restrictions, carefully reading labels and avoiding countless foods. But last Thursday marked a turning point in our family’s story – my daughter Iris had her sesame challenge at hospital, and I’m thrilled to share that she passed! Here’s a little about our first ever food challenge!
By Amy, our co-founder.
The lead-up to challenge day
When our allergy nurse first suggested a sesame challenge based on Iris’s declining blood and skin prick test results over the past two years, I felt both hopeful and terrified. The word “hospital” made everything seem more serious, but in retrospect, this medical setting provided the reassurance we needed.
What helped us prepare Iris (and ourselves) emotionally:
- Facts over fear: Our wonderful allergy nurse emphasised they would NEVER attempt a challenge if they thought it would be dangerous. These clear boundaries helped settle Iris’s worries.
- Open communication: We made time for all questions, no matter how small.
- Honest conversations: While my partner debated whether to tell Iris everything, we found that children often appreciate knowing what’s happening. Clear facts helped rather than hindered.
- Communicating with school that she was nervous, her teacher had a chat with her and another sent her a motivational video
The night before brought tears and a sleepless night. Cuddles with our doodle Barney proved invaluable for emotional support!
Challenge day: What actually happens
For those wondering what a hospital food challenge for sesame looks like, ours followed this pattern:
- A tiny bit of tahini on the lip (to our surprise, no reaction!)
- Gradually increasing amounts every 15 minutes
- Final step: 2¼ sesame snap biscuits (I had a lump in my throat seeing such a significant amount, but Iris handled it brilliantly)
Throughout the process, we:
- Watched Grease to keep things light
- Chatted about normal, everyday topics
- Maintained a relaxed atmosphere despite our internal nerves
Tips for Others Facing Food Challenges
If you’re preparing for your own or your child’s food challenge, here’s what helped us:
- Ask all questions, even ones that feel silly or obvious
- Pack comfort items: Favourite toys, downloaded films, and snacks
- Bring calming tools for yourself: Essential oils, drinks (I brought a Trip for my nerves and a gallon of tea), and downloaded podcasts (though I was too focused to listen!)
- Plan a celebration: We went to Accessorize afterwards for new earrings
The emotional impact
The sense of liberation is difficult to describe to those who haven’t lived with food restrictions. Saturday night, we enjoyed bao buns, sesame noodles, and gyoza as a family – a meal that would have been impossible just days before.
Looking Forward
For families still in the thick of food allergies, please know that treatment approaches are evolving rapidly. What seems a distant hope now might be closer than you think. Our journey with milk and egg ladders at age 4 was our first taste of food freedom, but this supervised sesame challenge represents an even bigger milestone. We’re grateful to our allergy team and immensely proud of Iris’s courage throughout this process.
If you have questions about our experience or are preparing for your own food challenge, please leave a comment below or reach out directly. The allergy community thrives when we share our stories.
