Maggie answers your questions!

As promised, here are my answers to the many of your questions.

 

A lot of the questions were about going out with friends for dinner, sleep overs etc. So I will start there. 

I have a great group of friends that understand my allergy and are very aware of the problems it could cause.  I always pack my auto-injector (of course) but I make sure that the friends I go out with know how to work it. If it is a new restaurant or friend I will check what the food is like (e.g. that it isn’t a thai restaurant and that the parents know that I can’t have peanuts). And just to double check I will ring the restaurant and tell them that I was coming and to wash the equipment for me, as well as asking them to be very careful when it comes to my dish. Then I just enjoy myself.

What is your biggest challenge being at high school with an allergy?

Probably that I can’t make all my friends be completely nut/peanut free all the time. I will just sit away from them and not touch them. Haha sounds mean, but that’s what I have to do.

When did you first use an auto-injector?

I have answered that in my first blog post. You can read it here.

I hope this has been useful for some of you. 

Talk later,

Maggie 

Do you have any other questions you would like to ask Maggie? Leave them down below in the comments section!

Teen Review - Wok 'n' Noodle

It was my Uncle’s birthday and our family wanted to go out for dinner but we couldn’t think of anywhere to go. We tried all sorts of places but not all of them could guarantee that their food was nut and peanut free. Until, my Mum said that she had tried a Thai restaurant called Wok ‘n’ noodle (you know the loud guy from the radio ad).

At first I was quite worried and scared of what might happen at a Thai restaurant (peanuts, nuts and more nuts). Mum said that the owner was very aware and positive about having me have a meal at his restaurant, he told my mum that he would get the chefs to clean out all the utensils and cook my dish COMPLETELY separately. Just being told that was a huge relief because ever since I had my first allergic reaction (2010) I have been very frightened to try anything new. But having the reassurance that everything would be clean and that they were aware of what could happen to me, was all it took for me to try it.

OMG I can’t explain how nice the food was, it was like the best meal you have ever had times 10!! 

As we left I asked my mum if we could so back next week. She laughed and said “maybe not next week, but now we know it is there so for sure we will come back.” 

I recommend trying this place, if you are looking for a quirky and delicious place to eat. The amazing service makes your meal painless and more enjoyable.  

Enjoy it :)

Maggie

Maggie - Teen blog

Here is a blog post by Maggie, our volunteer! We are very grateful for having such a bright girl in our office! Keep an eye out for more teen blogs to come :)

Hey there Facebook and blog followers! 

My name is Maggie and I am more like you than you might think! :)

Like you, I am a person living with an allergy. I’m a 4+ out of 5 and allergic to peanuts/nuts. I came to Allergy New Zealand for my service for Duke of Edinburgh and was overwhelmed by the knowledge and skill the people here have.

Back in 2010, on the first day of the Christmas holidays I experienced something that I had never in my life experienced before. 
My Mum was having some chocolates out of the favourites box and I asked if I could have one (don’t know what I was thinking). My Mum said yes and gave me a white chocolate. Five minutes later my Mum came in to find one of the eyes swollen shut and the other one almost shut. I do admit when my Mum first said that I needed the EpiPen I was scared, so scared that I started running around the house screaming. But once my Mum gave it to me I didn’t feel a thing. 

I later spent 9 hours at the hospital!

When we were standing outside waiting for a taxi, some ladies stopped us and told us that we had just won a spot prize! Mum and I thought we were just getting a Ipod or phone but we ended but getting a 32ich flat screen tv!!! The thing that sucks the most about that is that I didn’t even get it !!! When it was me who was in hospital and choose the taxi (to me that makes no sense).

A little more about me: I go to Epsom Girls Grammar and so far I have not had any trouble with getting into different groups and doing all the stuff that I want to do. So far at EGGS I have been involved in

-          Soccer

-          Cycling

-          Duke of Ed

-          Art

-          Sport caption for my class

But I plan on doing so much more so watch this space!

So what I’m trying to tell you is that your allergy shouldn’t shape you, it shouldn’t make you stop what you love doing. I know that allergies sucks but it makes you who you are and trust me, I wouldn’t change my allergy for the world (well maybe not as high as 4+, now that truly sucks). 

Always have a smile on your face even when things are hard!

If you want to ask me any questions feel free to leave a comment below!

Maggie