The love of a mother, through a book, about her son Tomás’ food allergies

Tomi, a boy almost the same as everyone

“Tomi He is my younger brother. He is 11 years old, 3 years younger than me. He can be affectionate and overly active at times. Tomi loves playing soccer and basketball, reading and drilling in the sea. He also likes being with his family, playing the drums, playing the computer, going to school and having fun with friends. Tomi is just like a child his age. Except one thing. “Tomi has food allergies”starts.

Thus, “Juli”, driven by the love and the need to protect your child, seeks to create a space where allergies can be talked openly, debunking myths and providing essential information for the safety and well-being of those who suffer from them. With the recent publication of her book in Chile, the author has big plans to spread her message to Mendozawhere he hopes to reach more families and educate young people about this crucial topic.

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The book to raise awareness about the benefits of eating healthy.

“It was a hard workmade with the collaboration of a designer and an editor, so that the book is agile in both its illustrations and its content. It is a topic worth spreading to continue generating awareness and support. It is a book that can help many families,” he told UNO.

The inclusion of “And”his 15-year-old daughter, was no coincidence. “She has been a fundamental support at all times, offering the right word and the necessary hug to her brother in difficult times. Therefore, although I wrote the book, the narration is from her voice as an older sister and unconditional support,” explains Juliana.

“I can eat safely” consists of 46 pages with accurate and colorful illustrations. The protagonist, of course, is Tomás, which led Juliana to direct the work towards a child and adolescent audience. Thus, the book describes Tomás’ daily life, while explaining in detail what anaphylaxis consists of. “Juli” expands: “Anaphylaxis means that the body confuses when eating some foods and sees them as a threat. As a consequence, it can generate one or more symptoms that can put your life at risk.”

He exemplifies: “Precisely the moment that is usually relaxation for everyone, where food is in the middle, for Tomás represents a alert”.

The first warning sign that Tomi gave

The baby was 4 and a half months old when, playing on a rug with his sister, he put the remains of a cookie in his mouth. “The reaction It was immediate, and we thought about several possibilities. In the midst of the scare, I took the baby, who was all swollen, to the clinic. It seemed like it was going to explode,” Juliana remembers.

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Tomi in one of the many awareness campaigns about the condition he suffers from.

“They never told me that there could be a rebound before 72 hours. Sure enough, it happened, and we had to fly back to the clinic. We knew there was something strange that we had to study,” he recalls. Later, in a pizzeria in Chile, contact with flour suspended in the air also caused an immediate reaction. “We ran to the hospital as soon as we saw him scratching,” he recalls. “He went straight to the shockroom”.

Each of these episodes generated a emotional impact in the entire family, who observed the “chaos” of nurses and doctors acting quickly. “We found the right doctor who gave us peace of mind from the first moment,” Juliana recalls, adding that he is the same professional who cares for her son to this day.

Quality of life above all

It wasn’t until 2021 that Tomi was able to access professionals in the United States. Since then, he has followed rigorous treatment with excellent results. “Today he leads a normal life, attending school, playing soccer and eating a varied diet, including nuts, peanuts and eggs, foods that previously caused reactions. With this treatment, your body learns to tolerate some foods,” he explains.

Since then, he has traveled to the northern country at least four times a year. “It is a strain of all kinds, but we are determined to improve their quality of life,” he warns.

The moral from the book he wrote with love and dedication It is the power of resilience. “Don’t let yourself be defeated, surround yourself with understanding people and, especially, learn to take care of yourself. There are good days and others not so good, but the challenge is to continue fighting, always from love,” concludes the mother.