I still can’t believe it.  We went into the allergist for an oral challenge for pecans yesterday.  I was nervous going in since Dean has never had a nut his life.   I thought he would fail for sure and ruin any chance of him willingly trying to eat a nut again versus waiting until his pecan IgE blood levels were a little lower and closer to negative.  But off we went, and thanks to Matt for pushing the limits (and pushing me to move forward against them).

Dean started by eating one-quarter of a pecan, waiting 15 minutes, and after no reaction, eating a whole one.  After another 15 minutes, the nurse fed him 2.  Wait another 15 minutes, Dean asking, “When can I have more pecans?”  He loved them!  Move onto 4 and then I started to panic, and worry…A LOT.  I had to leave because I was on the verge of tears a few times.  ‘If there is a delayed reaction, he’s for sure going to need an epi-pen at this point.’  The thought of actually getting past 1 or 2 pecans never even occurred to me!  I thought for sure we’d go in, try it, he’d break into hives after a piece of one or a whole one and we’d say, ‘Well, we tried.  Cross that off the list.  Maybe try again next year.’  I can’t believe we’re actually moving forward still?!  Then he got 8 and nothing happened.  And then we finally went back down to 5 because Dean was full.  And I slowly started to relax.  And started tearing up because ‘Could it possibly be true?  Could Dean actually not be allergic to a nut?  Calm down.  Calm down.  Last time, he passed his oat challenge and then didn’t get past the 24 hour mark.’  But it’s true.  He DID pass, and it’s been over 24 hours without any reaction so it seems official.  Our son, Dean, is no longer allergic to pecans!

Next up – walnuts.  February 16.