Over the past two years our little family has had new medical issues crop up, including a diagnosis of chronic idiopathic urticaria and angioedema for Mowgli. (Yeah, chronic idiopathic urticaria and angioedema is a mouthful. In Mowgli’s case it has meant hives the size of grapefruit, swelling of his hands and feet to the point where they look like balloons, and frightening swelling of the tonsils, lips, and soft palate…all for which the allergist can’t determine an exact cause.) I won’t go any further into that right now. Suffice it to say that it’s been a long couple of years. Our extended family and friends have been super supportive through it all, praying fervently with us for his healing. When things were at their worst, the question, “What can we do to help?” frequently came up. My standard answer was, “Please keep praying. If I think of any other way you can help, I’ll let you know.”
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I became aware of this Change.org petition to Strengthen the Food Label Modernization Act to Protect the Allergic Community. https://chng.it/Xt9XLncq7n
Life as a mom of a child with multiple anaphylactic food allergies is challenging on many different levels. One tremendous time-stealer is having to call manufacturers to get information about possible cross-contamination and/or which exact ingredients have been labeled as “spices” or “natural flavors” (etc.) in a product. So when I came across this petition I was pumped! Finally!! Someone clearly and thoroughly explained the problems we face due to ambiguous labeling and the steps needed to fix it! Excited, I immediately signed the petition then shared it on social media along with a request for our family and friends to do the same. Want to know how many of them have done so? ONE.
Talk about disappointing. I mean, our family and friends are constantly sharing memes, articles, business websites/sales pitches, awareness campaigns, and fundraisers. This petition doesn’t take any more effort to share than those do. Why didn’t they sign and share it? I thought they wanted to help us?! Many of them have walked with us from the very beginning of our food allergy journey. They’ve seen our struggles first hand. Don’t they understand that opportunities to change laws don’t come up very often? Don’t they know what a difference the suggestions in the petition could mean for us? Don’t they care? I’ve been trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. I keep telling myself that since I don’t interact very often on social media, my post could have been a casualty of the algorithms–maybe they didn’t see it. Maybe they did see it, but didn’t have time to read or sign it. Maybe they signed it without sharing it.
It’s a well-written petition. It only takes a few minutes to read it, and then a few extra seconds to sign it and click “share.” I’m hoping that this humble little post on this obscure little blog will reach some friendly strangers who are full of compassion and a heart to help. If that describes you: Please, please sign and share this petition, and do it soon.
P.S. – If you sign and/or share the petition, please leave me a comment to let me know. I’d love to say, “Thank you!”