This post is to honor fathers of children living
with FPIES by sharing these stories of the journey of their
families. Sharing both trials and successes gives a voice to all those
struggling with this invisible diagnosis, and is a valuable tool for other
families as well. We welcome this unique opportunity for families to learn from
one another and continue to grow together as a supportive community.
I'm a DIY dad... why
can't I fix this?
By Kevin Ronningen
As a father of a child with FPIES I have this constant urge to
just "fix" this. I want to protect my son. I want to make the
pain go away. And I don't want to face the fact that this is a chronic illness
or how it might be affecting the development of our son. Let alone look
at the stress it puts on my wife and I, our marriage and our family.
After two and half years of living with FPIES, I've faced the
reality that I can't fix this and I can't make the pain go away. That
doesn't mean I stop fighting for my son's health and well being.
I try my best to keep up with all the things doctors are saying,
what foods we should be trying next and what the last dirty diaper looked like.
It's overwhelming... all the time. But I've learned that
overwhelming is not unmanageable.
My wife and I make a great team... we knew that when we got
married nine years ago. That is even clearer now that we have a son with
FPIES. She worries a lot about "the next food" and spends a lot
of time in the kitchen trying new recipes. In order for her to do that,
I've had to step up and keep other parts of daily life moving forward.
It's never easy with both of us working full-time, but together we make
it happen.
Bottom line, even the most determined DIY dad's can't
"fix" FPIES. But with a little effort, we can at least help. None of us are alone in this.
Kevin Ronningen is a Marketing Manager at
North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Massachusetts. He's married and a father
to two little boys, ages 5 and 2. His youngest showed FPIES symptoms from
birth.
Under it all, Superdad is freaking out!
By
Mike Hansen
“I guess what scares
me the most now is the thought that I won’t be able to protect you” ―
Julia Hoban, Willow
When
you and your partner hold your little baby in your arms for the first time,
there are not many more magical moments in life. Their strange lips open as
they stretch their weak, bird-like necks and tilt their heads to the side,
giving you a quick glimpse of their ambiguously colored eyes. You don’t
understand it, but you are immediately in love. From that moment, you would put
your life in immediate danger, to protect the tiny, strange life you hold in
your arms. I had the fortune of experiencing that twice.
The
first time was in 2008, with my daughter, Kennedy. It was a long, drawn out
labor that ended in a cesarean-section, but I was in love. From that Monday
night, that first night I became a dad, it all changed. If I needed to step in
front of a bus or jump into a crocodile invested river or fight off a bear
(even Urlacher) I would do it to make sure that Kennedy was safe. Nothing is
going to hurt my little girl. And, if anything or anybody tries, may God have
mercy on their soul. I’m her dad. Like most dads think they are, I’m
superdad for cry eye!
In
2010, Laura and I had the great fortune to hold our second tiny, strange
life in our arms. We welcomed Miles on a Friday. He came into this world a lot
faster than Kennedy, mostly due to the planned cesarean-section.
On Sunday, I held him in my arms, he did his weird bird stretch, and
we watched our first Bears game together. It was the famed “Process of the
Catch” game. Again, love at first sight. Now I had Laura, Kennedy and
Miles to protect. What was once just Laura and I in a small one-bedroom
apartment, was now an entire family in a two-story house with a basement.
Superdad has himself a superfamily now!
Miles’s First Bears Game
Life
was going awesome. I had a good job, nice house, beautiful wife, and two, great
kids. And then Miles began having his FPIES episodes. I recently wrote, "The Worst Part about FPIES is not KnowingYour Child has FPIES" for Food Allergy Awareness Week 2014. In that, I wrote about the general aspects of
FPIES and how we have come to manage as a family. This is more about how it is
to be superdad during an episode. Particularly during the first few, which were
more violent. Truth is, it’s not easy. There are so many things going on that I
try to be cognizant about but it doesn’t stop the fact that Miles is going
through an episode in which he is vomiting continuously and becoming lethargic
in the process.
When
he would begin an episode, the first thing I would always do would be to focus
on Laura. Miles is Laura’s little baby boy. She has that connection that dad’s
will never have. Mother’s have the womb connection. It’s perhaps why there are
maternal instincts and why men are bigger risk takers. We didn’t sacrifice our bodies
and grow a human in seminal stew for nine months. Naturally she would get upset
as she watched her child in danger. I would try everything in my power to make
sure she was comfortable. Taking the figurative bullet for her. She’s a strong
woman, though and is hard to break. It is one of the things that I love about
her, but in moments of stress, it’s hard for superdad to be super when supermom
throws krypotonite right away!
After a bit I can calm Laura down,
and after a little time we can talk it through. There’s a moment of acceptance.
It stinks, but once it happens, it happens, you know. Once that happens, I try
to focus on comforting Miles. He’s a funny dude, though. He’s typically in a
good mood throughout it. He tries to smile in between purges. At that point I
don’t know if he is trying to make me feel better. I swear kids are smarter
than they act from time to time. Once we have a game plan in action, which is
usually the ER for fluids, we focus on Kennedy. It can be traumatic to a
five-year old to see her brother recreating scenes from The Exorcist. It’s
a time for education and to let her know that he will be okay. He is just a
little sick and it’s part of his FPIES. In a few hours he’ll be fine. He got
milked, that is all. That’s what we call it here. He can’t have milk. It is not
his safe food.
While
I am doing all of this, under it all, superdad is freaking out! It does scare
me to think that I won’t be able to protect him. I’m also a little pissed. Why
is this happening to my son? He’s so small! His body can’t handle this. There’s
got to be something I can do to fix this. I am superdad. Superdad fixes things.
That’s what dads do. We fix things. So why can’t I fix this?
Over
time it’s become a bit easier, but when an episode happens, the process remains
the same. Maybe I’m not as scared as the first time. For anyone that has had to
see their child receive a lumbar puncture would know what I am talking about. I
don’t understand FPIES, but I will do anything to protect Miles and my family.
Mike met his
wife, Laura, in 2003 at Purdue University and they were married the following
year. In 2008 they welcomed their first born, Kennedy. In 2010 they were
blessed again and welcomed Miles. In 2011 Miles and Laura began their education
with FPIES and have been doing all they can to spread the word following Miles’
diagnosis. Mike grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and has been a die-hard Cubs
and Bears fan his whole life! Mike
is a writer who maintains a blog at http://www.fattyhansen.com/ and recently finished his first book, When Life Hands you a Lemon and is working on his second book, Mourning
Skye.
The FPIES Foundation does not provide medical advice,
diagnosis or treatment. The information provided on this site is intended for
supportive, awareness and educational purposes and not as medical advice. It is
not a substitute for care by a trained medical provider. For individualized
medical advice, please consult a physician. The FPIES
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