Growing up, you were mesmerized by the valiant feats of brave nights and the epic rescue missions of characters with superhuman powers, weren’t you? Their triumph over evil is what made these figures your heroes. Inspired by their courage, strength, and ability to change the world for the better, you dreamed of growing up to be just like them one day.
Now that you know no longer believe in the fictitious tales of childhood storybooks, who are your heroes? Are they the police officers, firefighters, and soldiers who risk their lives in order to protect others? How about the teachers who spend their personal hours mentoring struggling students? Or maybe those individuals tirelessly advocating for a cause in which they believe, despite overwhelming opposition?
By definition, a hero is “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” Our classic perception is that heroes are those whose character personifies courage, sacrifice, altruism, and integrity. They voluntarily cede something of themselves, whether it be their time, money, life, etc., not for the purpose of personal glorification, but in order to positively impact the world around them. These people see something in the world that they don't like and take the initiative to stand up and change it. Heroes, however, are not only those making strides at bettering mankind as a whole; sometimes, their heroism is more targeted. They are the individuals who gallantly persevere in the face of some personal struggle, often silently, and sometimes unbeknownst to others. They are the parents working all hours of the day and/or holding multiple jobs in order to provide for their children. They are even the good samaritans who offer a smile and kind greeting to a passerby who may be struggling within.
For those of us dealing with food allergies, heroes come in even more "nontraditional" forms: the chef that had the culinary skill to craft a meal that didn't taste bland and cardboard-esque, the friend who made sure to have "safe" snacks when you came to visit, the relative who knew how to administer an epinephrine auto-injector in a time of need, the date that ordered a meal free of your allergens so as to not cause a trip to the ER with a goodnight kiss. One characteristic common among all of these food allergy heroes is knowledge. They became our heroes because they infused their compassion with the knowledge of our condition to make our lives just a little bit brighter.
Whether you are food allergy-sufferer, or a food allergy supporter, there are boundless ways in which you can be a hero! The first step is to understand food allergies and the day-to-day battles that the allergic community faces. Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) is a great resource for this (as can be ascertained from the name, itself). Knowledge makes a world of difference; believe me! It is incredibly comforting and appreciated when someone remembers my allergies and makes an effort to accommodate them, whether it be by purchasing or baking something special for me (shout out to my baby sister, Nicole, for always baking me gifts of allergy-free cookies, brownies, and breads when I was studying at Tufts University!), or choosing a restaurant based on their "allergy friendliness," etc. After exemplifying a support system for food allergic individuals, the next step is to advocate for research and widespread education and support. One of the ways I do this is by walking in FARE's Heroes Walk for Food Allergy. See my page about this for more information on why I walk and how you can get involved! I also love partnering with restaurants to host "dining to donate" nights where part of the restaurant's sales go to a nonprofit organization of your choice, which in my case is FARE. Along with my parents, I also advocated for food allergies while at college. We jumped over various hurdles and fought a long battle, but in the end, we are proud to say that Tufts now labels it ingredients on all dining hall and cafe foods, and there is even a separate refrigerator housing various gluten-free baked goods. This blog is just another one of the ways I am trying to reach out and make a difference in the food allergy world.
When I received my "I'm A Hero" pin from FARE (the day after I launched this blog - coincidence?), my first thought was "Me? A hero? No..." But after reflecting upon this idea a bit more, I realized that every single person who endures one or more food allergies and presses on is a hero. Every person on a restricted or modified diet due to medical reasons is a hero. Every person who shows support and compassion towards those suffering is a hero. FARE's three words to describe their walk's mission are key: connect, unite, inspire. Whether it be a food allergy hero, or any other, what makes their actions truly remarkable and heroic is that they connect with the "victim(s)," so to speak, unite with them to affect change, and inspire those around them to realize their true potential and strive for nothing less.
As American author, Mary McCarthy, wisely said, "We all live in suspense from day to day; in other words, you are the hero of your own story."
Let us know how YOU are a (food allergy) hero in the comments below, and feel free to praise any and all of the other (food allergy) heroes you have encountered!
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