The stress leading up to this trip was overbearing.
Between hand, foot, and mouth running through the house, back-to-school germs everywhere, Benjamin (big brother) having surgery, and a required seven-day antihistamine restriction, I was stretched thin.
But we made it through.
We made it through school with no reactions. We stayed healthy the week of our trip. Theo handled a full week off antihistamines. I prepped all his foods. We drove to Chicago at midnight, ran through a thunderstorm to catch our flight, sat through a couple-hour delay, and finally landed in Long Beach, California.
Once we landed, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief after such a chaotic lead-up.
After a long day of travel—waiting, sitting, and more waiting—Theo needed to burn off some energy. This time we took him to El Dorado Frontier Park, where he rode a little train, a carousel, and even panned for gold and gems. By the end of the evening, we were all worn out, so we headed back to the Ronald McDonald House for dinner and bed. With the time change, an early night came easily.
The next morning, we had to stick closely to Theo’s maintenance and dosing schedule, so we started the day with his maintenance cookie—packed with all the foods he currently eats—before heading to the Aquarium of the Pacific. This was our second visit, and since it’s so close to where we stay, we decided to get a 12-month pass for future trips.
Our first aquarium visit was about a year ago during his initial blood work and testing. This time, he enjoyed it so much more now that he’s older. His favorite part, though, is still the gift shop—specifically picking out a stuffed animal. I don’t love spending money on things like this, but this kid truly loves his stuffies. He takes care of them and sleeps with them for months, so the splurge feels worth it. This time, he chose a shark and insisted on getting small gifts for his brother and sister too.
We made it back to the Ronald McDonald House in time for lunch. Someone had donated sandwiches and treats for Dustin and me, while we prepared Theo a safe meal using the foods we brought and picked up from the store. These donated meals—from companies and families—are such a gift during our stays.
(If you have a Ronald McDonald House near you, ask how you can donate. It directly supports families who truly need the help.)
The rest of the afternoon was spent playing outside, watching some football, and completing his dosing treatment.
Appointment Time
Like our previous visits, this appointment was split into two days.
Day 1 began with a skin prick test (SPT) for environmental allergies. This test is usually done during the first visit, but during Theo’s initial appointment, there simply wasn’t enough room on his back after food testing. For those unfamiliar, the test involves lightly pricking the skin—just enough to trigger a response without breaking the skin—to see how the body reacts. Theo has done this many times with his regular allergist, and the hardest part is the itching afterward. If he reacts, he can’t touch his back for 15 minutes, which is a tall order for a 5-year-old.
This time, I came prepared. He laid on my tummy, cuddling his new shark stuffy. Dad let him choose a YouTube video ahead of time for distraction. Once the pricks were done, Mom pulled out an extra-special treat—Sour Patch Kids—while Dad gently fanned his back to help with the itching. Considering how uncomfortable it is, he handled it with incredible bravery.
Treating all histamine responses—including environmental allergies—is important while working through food triggers. Keeping other histamine sources controlled helps his body focus on the food conditioning process.
Unfortunately, the environmental SPT showed positive reactions to several allergens. These results will be confirmed by the environmental specialists, but it’s likely we’ll be adding another layer to his treatment plan to manage these alongside his food work.
Next came his food challenges—testing how his body tolerates larger amounts of foods he’s been working on for months.
After each food, Theo has to get his body moving in the gym to ensure there are no delayed reactions. During our first visit, he wouldn’t even enter the room, and we had to run the hallways instead. Each visit, he’s grown more confident. Last time he tried the treadmill; this time he tackled the elliptical, treadmill, stationary bike, and trampoline.
He passed everything with flying colors, which means we’re officially adding pecans, pumpkin seeds, and black beans to his morning maintenance routine.
It was a big day, so as promised, we headed to a local park and then to Dollar Tree for prizes. We had planned to go to the beach, but we were all exhausted. Instead, we ended the day doing what he loves most—playing at the Ronald McDonald House with board games, basketball, and foosball.
Day 2 was a more typical food-intro day, where small doses of new foods are introduced. This time, we added almond, chestnut, and sesame. These doses are incredibly tiny and difficult to measure, so the Food Allergy Institute provides them in gummy form to ensure accuracy—and thankfully, they taste good, which makes the process easier for the kids.
After each gummy, Theo rested while we monitored for reactions. He did great with all three, and these foods will now become part of our nightly dosing routine.
After the appointments, he needed downtime, so we headed back to the Ronald McDonald House. Lunch was provided again, and Theo happily ate his go-to SunButter and jelly sandwich—something he’d eat every day if I let him.
We still wanted to squeeze in some fun, so we ventured out to a dinosaur-themed playground. It was a hit, though the warm weather cut our visit short. From there, we headed to the beach, exploring the Belmont Shore area—playing on the bay side before walking over to the ocean to search for seashells.
We’re so grateful we can build joy into these trips. Theo deserves to just be a 5-year-old, even while navigating food allergies and everything that comes with them.
We’re also incredibly thankful for my aunt, who lives about an hour away and helps with airport runs and playing tour guide during our visits.
And none of this would be possible without our family back home. Dustin’s mom always steps in to care for our other two kids, making it possible for both of us to be here for Theo.
Overall, Visit Four was another meaningful step forward on Theo’s path to food freedom.
