Although I am a fairly new patient at MSH, when I notice someone in need, I love to help. In December of 2019, I started having excruciating pain in my abdomen. I went with my father to our family doctor for sick call as the pain hadn't gone away for days. After being seen there, I was sent for around five bloodwork tests and parasite testing. Fortunatly and unfortunatly, all the tests came back negative. For around a year, I was advised to cut lactose out of my diet and was on a waitlist for three Paediatric Gastroenterologists. In August of 2019, I was luckily seen my Dr. Cynthia Popolis at Boomerang Health Clinic. I was booked for my first Endoscopy only a few months later, and this is when I first met Julie.

A few months later, when I got the results, I was diagnosed with EoE or Eosinophilic Esophagitis. This is a disease where there are white blood cells coating my esophagus causing a sticking feeling when I eat, horrible stomach pain, inflamation, nausea and more. At this time, most of the Eosinophils were in my upper GI track and I had a few options; starting by cutting out two of six main allergens (dairy, gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and soy) or starting a medication to help with the inflamation and stomach pain. Usually, doctors do one at a time to see how the body reacts, but after a long time of discomfort, I decided I would take an aggresive course of treatmeent and do both at the same time. In November, I started on a medication called Budesonide which is a liquid that I had to mix with Splenda for a toothpaste consistancy to coat my esophagus. As well, I cut all dairy products and gluten out of my diet, in addition to my other allergies: treenuts, peanuts, fish, sunflower and pumpkin. 

Soon enough, I went for a second scope because the pain was reoccuring. The date of this scope was when I spoke to Julie Atkinson about my project. She was very appreciative and I wasn't so nervous for this scope because I knew that the next time I returned, I would put a smile on so many childrens' faces. This time, the Eosinophils had moved lower in my track but the upper was doing much better. While waiting for my results however, I experienced my firts anaphylactic reaction to soy. This was very random for me because I had been eating it for my whole life. Therefore, I had to cut out soy, ontop of my other allergies, dairy and gluten. Within the few months prior, I took sesame out of my diet because I was having mild reactions and we were worried they would get worse. My allergist, Sari Herman, also advised me to stay off of it because my blood levels were very high. 

Coming to March 16, 2021, I was scheduled for an Endoscopy and Colonoscopy to rule out Chrones and Colitis, other stomach disorders. Unfortunatly, I wasn't able to spend a long time speaking with Julie about the donations because I gave the toys to the hospital following the scope (which is why I am in a wheelchair).