A Family’s Journey to Food Freedom

The first time your child has a life-threatening allergic reaction, everything changes.

There’s the panic, the rush to the ER, the helplessness of watching a doctor inject epinephrine into their tiny body. Then comes the realization: This is our life now. Every meal, every snack, every party, every holiday - food is no longer safe.

I know because I’ve lived it.

Fifteen years ago, my daughter Sadie had her first anaphylactic reaction after eating a granola bar. We didn’t know she was allergic to peanuts. But our reality shifted in an instant. Two years later, my son Jonah was diagnosed with multiple severe food allergies, Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE), and asthma. Suddenly, food wasn’t just food - it was a potential death sentence.

We were told there was no cure. That our only option was strict avoidance and constant fear. We accepted that as our reality.

Until one day, we didn’t.

Living in Fear: The Daily Reality of Food Allergies

If you’re reading this, you probably know what it’s like. The endless cycle of:

• Checking every label, every time. Because brands change ingredients without warning.

• Bringing our own “safe” food everywhere. Because trusting restaurants is a gamble.

• Coaching teachers, babysitters, and family members. And still worrying they won’t take it seriously.

• Holding our breath at every birthday party. Because cross-contamination is real.

• Watching our kids feel isolated. Because they can’t eat what their friends eat.

It’s exhausting. It’s heartbreaking. And it’s not how childhood should be.

For years, we accepted that this was our only option. Avoidance. Fear. Restrictions.

Until we heard about something different. A path to food freedom.

Finding Hope: The First Step Toward Treatment

When we first heard about the Tolerance Induction Program (TIP) at the Food Allergy Institute, I didn’t want to get my hopes up. It sounded too good to be true. A program that could train the immune system to tolerate food allergens? After years of being told there was no solution?

But the more I researched, the more I realized: this wasn’t just wishful thinking.

The science was real. The results were real. The success stories were real. Families just like ours were seeing their kids eat foods that once could have killed them.

It wasn’t easy to say yes.

• The cost was staggering. Even with insurance, we knew we’d be paying thousands of dollars out of pocket.

• The process would be long. It could take years to reach full tolerance.

• The road would be challenging. We’d be asking our child to eat the very foods that could harm them.

But the alternative? A lifetime of fear.

We knew we had to try.

The Journey: Progress, Setbacks, and Small Victories

The first few months of treatment were the hardest.

Every dose was terrifying. Those initial clinic visits brought anxiety. We questioned if we were doing the right thing.

But then, something amazing happened.

The foods that once caused anaphylaxis… stopped being a threat.

Week by week, Jonah’s body began building tolerance. What once was dangerous became safe.

It wasn’t an overnight miracle. There were setbacks, there were tough days, but there was also hope.

• The first time Jonah ate something he was previously allergic to and was okay? We cried.

• The first time he had a slice of birthday cake with his friends? It felt like a victory.

• The first time we went to a restaurant and didn’t have to hold our breath? It was freedom.

We never thought we’d get here, even in the midst of treatment.

What Food Freedom Feels Like

Today, Jonah is on his way to eating like any other kid. Sadie has decided to start treatment, too.

For the first time in over a decade, we can imagine a life where food is just food.

• No more obsessive label-checking.

• No more separate “safe” meals.

• No more explaining to every new teacher, coach, or babysitter.

• No more sitting on edge every time our child eats.

Food freedom is real.

And every family deserves the chance to experience it.

Why We Started Small & Mighty Foundation

When we started this journey, we didn’t know how we were going to afford it.

We were lucky - we had good insurance, two incomes, and family support. And it was STILL financially overwhelming.

That’s why we started Small & Mighty Foundation - because every family deserves access to food freedom, not just those who can afford it.

We’re here to:

✔ Help families afford life-changing treatment through financial assistance.
✔ Raise awareness so more people know that food freedom is possible.
✔ Provide a community of support for families walking this road.

How You Can Be Part of the Story

Food allergies don’t just affect the kids who have them—they affect their parents, their siblings, their schools, their communities. We all have a role to play in making life safer for these families.

🌱 Donate – Help fund treatment for a child in need.
📢 Share this story – The more people who understand the struggle, the more support we can build.
💙 Follow & advocate – Be part of the conversation and help raise awareness.

Final Thoughts: Hope Is Real. Freedom Is Possible.

If you’re a parent reading this, wondering if food freedom is possible for your child…

I want you to know: I was you. I was scared. I was skeptical. I was overwhelmed.

But I’ve seen the other side. And it is worth fighting for.

You are not alone. There is hope. And together, we can help more families experience the freedom that every child deserves.

Every small step leads to a mighty change. Let’s take that step together.