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This episode is the third in a series of recent discussions about Food Allergies and Intimacy. I encourage you to listen to Parts 1 and 2 to provide the medical background and social/emotional context for this episode.

In this deeply touching conversation, I sit down with Portia Barton, whose tween daughter Charlotte tragically died in 2022 from a mysterious allergic reaction. While she shared part of the story at the time, understandably some details remained unclear as the family processed and mourned their child's death, and gathered information trying to understand the events that led to her passing. Portia now feels ready to share the full story in order to inform and protect the food allergy community.

This episode is a quiet conversation with powerful resonance. Portia's courage in sharing her story invites empathy and fosters awareness that intimacy with food allergies can have life-and-death consequences.

Trigger Warning:
This episode contains detailed discussion of the events leading to the tragic death of a child due to an allergic reaction triggered by a kiss. This description may be distressing—please listen with care and consider skipping if you're experiencing the loss of a loved one or have young children present. This episode may be best processed with supportive company.

Please know that we did not share this conversation in order to shock or ignite fear in the food allergy community. Instead, we feel this is important information for young people and parents to understand in order to grasp the reality of the potential risks of kissing with food allergies.

Portia has generously made herself available to any questions/discussions that the audience may have. Please be respectful and considerate of the family's loss in any comments shared with her directly or on social media.

You can follow Charlotte's legacy here:
About | Live Like Charlotte
@livelikechar

You can follow Portia's grief journey on social media @iamportiabarton

Thank you again to Portia for sharing this important story. 💙

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

It was an honor to record this Father's Day and Men's Mental Health month episode with Thomas Silvera, co-founder of the Elijah‑Alavi Foundation. In this discussion, Thomas revisits the tragic passing of his 3-year-old son, Elijah, due to a fatal allergic reaction at daycare, and explore how that loss sparked a nationwide advocacy movement. He shares the Foundation's progress with Elijah's Law, and also speaks candidly about being a food allergy Dad, his own mental health journey, racial and socioeconomic inequity in food allergy and asthma, and what we can do about it.

Elijah-Alavi Foundation | Non-profit
The Anaphylaxis Strike! a book by Arevlis Sa-Moht and Thomas Silvera - Bookshop.org US

Reach out to me via my website Connect — Amanda Whitehouse Phd or on Instagram @thefoodallergypsychologist to be entered in the giveaway of Thomas' new book, The Anaphylaxis Strike.

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

In Part 2 of our series on dating and intimacy with food allergies, food allergy memoirist and mental health professional Sloane Miller joins me to explore the emotional and social dimensions of navigating relationships while managing food allergies.

We delve into the complexities of identity, self-trust, communication, and vulnerability that individuals with food allergies may encounter in romantic contexts. Our conversation also focuses on how parents can proactively prepare their children for these experiences through early empowerment, fostering resilience and self-advocacy.

Please note: This episode contains discussions on mature topics, including dating, intimacy, and emotional well-being in the context of food allergies. These subjects may not be suitable for young children. Listener discretion is advised.

Join us as we consider:

• Emotional challenges and worries about dating with food allergies
• The importance of teaching consent and boundaries from a young age
• Strategies for effective communication about allergies in relationships
• Parental guidance on building children's confidence and preparedness

This episode aims to empower individuals with food allergies to navigate their personal relationships confidently and safely. Whether you're navigating these experiences yourself or guiding your child through them, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice.

To support this discussion, Dr. Whitehouse has created a free handout summarizing the key takeaways from this two-part series. Listeners can request this resource by contacting her through Instagram at @thefoodallergypsychologist or through her website: Connect — Amanda Whitehouse Phd.

You can find Sloane Miller at www.allergicgirl.com and buy her books here: Bookshop.org US including Allergic Girl Guide to Dating a book by Sloane Miller - Bookshop.org US

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com