Theodore’s TIP Journey: Cycle 1 Recap

In January, we officially launched Cycle #1 of Theodore’s treatment through the TIP (Tolerance Induction Program). We walked out of those four initial appointments filled with information—and honestly, I was completely overwhelmed. In those first days back I was beyond grateful to have the support from fellow TIP families who were so quick to help me with all my questions!

From hunting down the specific ingredients we needed, to figuring out how to bake them into foods Theo would actually eat, to carving out the time each night for his dosing routine… it took some time to find our rhythm. But now, 11 weeks in, we’ve settled into a daily routine that’s become our new normal.

Our Daily Routine Looks Like This:

Morning:
We start each day at 6am with a serving of jello that includes alfalfa, followed by a muffin baked with pectin, flax, and coconut flour. Then it’s off to daycare by 7:00 AM.

Evening:
At night, Theodore takes Zyrtec and waits 30 minutes before beginning his dosing. Right now, he’s working on three foods: chia seed, macadamia nut, and pine nut.

On top of all that, we also have a list of “support foods” we must keep in rotation. That means making sure Theodore eats apples, pears, cherries, mustard, sunflower seeds, and coconut flour at least three times a week. These aren’t part of his treatment dosing, but they’re still crucial to his progress and tolerance building. So yes—I’m basically managing a mini meal plan within the treatment plan!

In the beginning, we used gummies from the clinic for dosing, but as his tolerance increased, so did the amounts. What started as a sprinkle became 1/8 tsp, then 1/4 tsp, and so on. That meant it was back to the kitchen for me—this time baking three individual cookies, each with a precise dose of one ingredient. Luckily, Theo loves them, so the effort is worth it!

Each night goes like this:

Eat cookie #1 → wait 15 minutes

Eat cookie #2 → wait 15 minutes

Eat cookie #3 → then 1 hour of quiet play/rest


That’s a total of 1.5 hours every night dedicated to this routine. It’s a big commitment—but we’re all in.

How It’s Going:

Overall, Theodore is handling everything like a champ. Mornings go smoothly, and although nighttime quiet time can be tough (what 5-year-old wants to sit still for that long?), he’s pushing through. Our biggest challenge? Keeping our dog away and avoiding the couch, since we discovered in January that Theo is allergic to both dogs and cats. Dosing has to happen in a dander-free zone—no exceptions.

A Small Setback:

Week 8 threw us a bit of a curveball. I got that dreaded mid-day text from daycare—a photo of Theo’s eye red and swollen. I immediately contacted the clinic’s on-call doctor for guidance. Daycare administered his emergency meds, and my husband left work to monitor him.

Just when we thought we were in the clear, a few hours later the other eye swelled up. Again, meds worked and Theo bounced back. We still don’t know exactly what caused the reaction—could’ve been environmental, pet exposure, or cross-contamination. We paused dosing for a few days and picked back up with no further issues.

This was a minor hiccup for Theodore he recovered almost immediately but I personally struggled with this reaction for weeks.  Any reaction he has is very triggering for me but it’s a reminder of why we are doing this treatment.

Looking Ahead:

Cycle 1 brought challenges, learning curves, and a lot of late-night baking—but it also brought progress. We’re proud of Theo and all he’s already accomplished. He’s brave, resilient, and just so darn tough.

Visit 2 is currently underway so stay tuned to hear about our trip, our progress and begin cycle 2