Country music superstar Trace Adkins understands the effect food allergies can have on kids and their families, especially parents. Trace’s daughter, Brianna, has severe food allergies. “When she was 18 months old, she licked the lid of a peanut butter jar; her face immediately got swollen. We had no experience with food allergies at the time, and it was terrifying. We later learned she is allergic to several foods including peanuts, milk, and eggs,” says Trace.
Learning about her allergies has “been a struggle and a learning process. We are very careful about our food now. We have peanut butter in the house, but it is on the top shelf of the pantry, and none of us wants to eat it. I don’t like to eat what she can’t eat,” he says. “My wife is the world’s best at managing our daughter’s food allergy. It is her mission in life to enable Brianna to have just as normal a childhood as others. We don’t isolate her but are vigilant and watch over her. It’s all about education.”
With Trace and his families help, Brianna is coping with her food allergies. “She is a mature little girl. It is both amazing and heartbreaking at the same time to see how mindful she’s learned to be about her food allergies. She has had several reactions which required a trip to the hospital, so she knows how careful she has to be. She knows to ask first before eating any food,” says Trace, words that could only come from a proud father.
It was because of his daughter’s experience that Trace was motivated to join with the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). “I know firsthand how important FAAN’s efforts to increase funding for food allergy research are,” says Trace. He and his family turn to FAAN for help managing Brianna’s food allergies, and now Trace is helping FAAN as their national spokesperson.
He is currently on “The Celebrity Apprentice” to raise awareness for FAAN, and in 2008 is reprising his role as the honorary chairman of Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure, which raises money and awareness for food allergy education and research. “I’m so pleased to be able to lend my name as the National Honorary Chair,” says Trace.
“I don’t think many people are aware that so many children are developing food allergies these days.” To all parents of children with food allergies Trace says, “Be aware that food allergies are serious. We are not talking about a simple rash. Let’s work together to figure out what is causing the increase in food allergy and take care of
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