September 11th... a sad day for all of us

No, it's not because I mourn for the victims of 911. I care but I do not know them. But Victoria, my little princess is hardly 3 1/2 years old, and we received the blood test results for her allergies on this day.

September 11th, 2008.

I didn't blog about this earlier, mainly due to logistics as I was outstation. Then I didn't had the heart to blog about this because I wanted this news private. And then as we move on, and 2 weeks have passed and I'm surprised I'm easily surviving, and she being stronger than I thought, I think I should blog about it now. Not because I want sympathy. Nor a shoulder to cry on. Nor help in any form, although any information about this will be much appreciated.

But I want her to know, when she's older.

If you remember that on Malaysia's Independence Day on 31st August, Victoria was admitted to hospital for acute gastroenteritis. During the same admission, the doctor looked at her ezcema which has long been a problem and not healing. An allergist doctor came to chat with us, and suggested some measures we can take. But a blood test is needed to truly determine the cause and allergies that she may have, besides the E.G.G culprit that we know of.

So they drew blood from her. She cried. But she was brave. Daddy and Mummy were there to hold her, while the nurses and doctor took her blood.

Her blood test result came out on Thursday, September 11th. We received the result and report recommendation before meeting the allergist doctor. I read it, and it sounded bad, but i felt nothing still without talking to the doctor yet.

Victoria, according to the report, has very severe allergy to house dust mites, with mild allergy to egg, chicken, ikan bilis, wheat and milk. When Dr Yadav, the allergist doctor, whom we later found out was a professor, spoke to us on the food and related food products that Victoria is not to touch for at least, the next 6 months, it suddenly dawned upon me that my little girl will be very sad. Amongst many other banned food, are her favourite sausages, yogurt, ice cream, cakes, cookies, wan tan mee, spaghetti, bread, buns.

My tears flowed. I couldn't control them. The maid took care of William in the doctor's office. Victoria was half interrupting us and just being restless. Hubby sat nearby. The doctor infront. As he continue speaking, he told me not to be so emotional. What? I thought. This is not just a patient. My daughter is hardly 3 1/2 years old and all the food banned are her favourite.

So what can she eat? It's like telling her to eat just white rice, pork and vegetable. Hubby said we should stay strong, and not let Victoria see us break down.

Victoria somehow knew. We brought her to the Organic Farm shop immediately after the hospital visit. Grabbed some wheat-free pasta and spaghetti. Found out that they have soya-based ice cream, but that only come in 1 flavour. That day itself, I became a member of the Organic Farm shop! Hhmm..

2 weeks passed. Victoria is stronger than we thought. She has on a few occassions, asked, "Why I can't drink milk but why other babies can?" And she has also kept asking me, to some extend I think she's just being cheeky, if there's egg in the food that she takes, eg while eating a raisin, "Mummy this one got egg or not?"

Some days I can see she feels sad. She feels different. I think especially in school during tea breaks when she cannot join her friends to eat the same food, or when there is biscuit or cookie on the table but she cannot take. But she has shown maturity and courage.

I keep explaining to her that the allergies are just temporarily. For a while, darling. After Christmas, or by her next year's birthday, she can eat all the food she wants. Deep down, I hope and pray that I am right. What's the light at the end of this tunnel? I'm not sure myself, except that we need to slowly reintroduce the food to her after 6 months. Or maybe 4 months. Some people ignore this, as it's just mild allergies. But we want her to grow out of it, and we want to hasten that. We want to cure her of her ezcema, so she don't have to itch and scratch and bleed.

The Roboclean we bought last year came as truly a blessing in disguise and we have to thank a close friend for recommending us to this. It sucks out all the dustmites from the mattresses and fabric, and everytime I see the "pukey" looking water after each exercise, I am deeply pleased. We bought allergy covers for the mattresses and pillows, and used 2.5 bottles of anti dustmite spray all fabric material including the carpet and sofa set. The maid has been quietly understanding all these, and obediently helping me do the vaccuuming.

Yes, we have declared WAR against all house dustmites! And this is just the beginning. Her skin is slowly healing, but we will not know for sure until another month or so. In the meantime, it's more vaccumming and hot washing the bedsheets, and maintaining the house a notch cleaner, or ten notch cleaner... because we want you to heal, Victoria.