Its Food Allergy Awareness month and Cystic Fibrosis Awareness month. And I am equally passionate about both and never have any idea where to start but this year it was different.
Its tradition that me and Wonder Woman go shopping the weak before Mothers Day. We go to the mall enjoy ourselves and we of course get coffee!! We had gone to Michael Kors, Dillards and we stopped for Starbucks on the way to Sephora. I ordered my drink and they asked me if I wanted milk I said no thank you I am allergic to milk. I ordered it with Chai and Vanilla to syrups that are well flavored sugar. We went like we alway do and I took a sip of my drink. I was like OMG this is Mocha this not what I ordered. Wonder Woman quickly looked back at me and we went off to the side and I said try this you need to try this. To my horror it was indeed Mocha. Mocha is a milk based product. I immediately took all of my medication and we went back and gave them my drink and I said does this have mocha in it?? I explained again I had a milk allergy and I wanted chia. The guy was like the righten says. Im like no what was put in it?? SO the girl that rung us up was like I am sorry I really did think you wanted Mocha. I am like no you don't understand this is a true allergy. So at this point I am starting to take the rest of my meds because the milk is hitting my system with in minutes. They gave me another drink and the meds aren't kicking in fast enough. I am like hey lets go here really quick I want to stay close to the hospital in case this is gonna hit me hard. It didn't thankfully and I was OK about 10-15 minutes later.
So I looked at Wonder Woman and told her I just can't let this go this is a huge opportunity for education but I do not want any one fired I just want them aware of the severe consequences that could happen to someone with a food allergy. So I emailed Starbucks and was so scared they were gonna right me off as whatever. Just the opposite they took it very seriously. I said it was not the location linked to my account and I do not want any fired I just want people aware of the consequences of what can happen with food allergies. It's not that i accepted another milk, i declined any milk as I like my coffee black. They put a milk based product in my coffee. I did tell them the actual location. The situation was handled very well.
People are quite shocked I didn't proceed with anger after I explained my allergy and that I just wanted education. People do not learn from anger. They learn from compassion and education. When people order a drink they want exactly what they order. They order what is safe for them to eat or drink. This is a huge opportunity to explain. Allergies can kill. You could have killed me, especially since I have compromised airways due to CF. I am so blessed I had a nurse with me. I am so blessed I had the opportunity to act instead of react. I also wonder what type of education baristas have on Food Allergies. Has this one person ever dealt with them before?? Has she had proper education?? If I don't educate then who will?? I am OK and still on a decent amount of benadryl but I am so blessed this wasn't a worse reaction because food allergies are deadly. They can kill people. You hear about a food allergy and do not quite understand them ask the person to clarify. We are MORE then happy to educate you. I will kindly explain what an allergy TRULY is and what an intolerance is.
Food Allergies are anything that compromises the immune system. Its systemic and affect the lungs, heart, skin, airways, and digest system. It is immediate. Some people present with hives, some present with wheezing, and other present with other various symptoms. Action needs to be immediate and if someone ask for help let them instruct you further. All items being used on the persons food need to be cleaned as well as your hands. Alway always always take any allergy seriously!! Please be aware of all this and further educate yourself on anaphylaxis.
Love Y'all
~Poppet
Its tradition that me and Wonder Woman go shopping the weak before Mothers Day. We go to the mall enjoy ourselves and we of course get coffee!! We had gone to Michael Kors, Dillards and we stopped for Starbucks on the way to Sephora. I ordered my drink and they asked me if I wanted milk I said no thank you I am allergic to milk. I ordered it with Chai and Vanilla to syrups that are well flavored sugar. We went like we alway do and I took a sip of my drink. I was like OMG this is Mocha this not what I ordered. Wonder Woman quickly looked back at me and we went off to the side and I said try this you need to try this. To my horror it was indeed Mocha. Mocha is a milk based product. I immediately took all of my medication and we went back and gave them my drink and I said does this have mocha in it?? I explained again I had a milk allergy and I wanted chia. The guy was like the righten says. Im like no what was put in it?? SO the girl that rung us up was like I am sorry I really did think you wanted Mocha. I am like no you don't understand this is a true allergy. So at this point I am starting to take the rest of my meds because the milk is hitting my system with in minutes. They gave me another drink and the meds aren't kicking in fast enough. I am like hey lets go here really quick I want to stay close to the hospital in case this is gonna hit me hard. It didn't thankfully and I was OK about 10-15 minutes later.
So I looked at Wonder Woman and told her I just can't let this go this is a huge opportunity for education but I do not want any one fired I just want them aware of the severe consequences that could happen to someone with a food allergy. So I emailed Starbucks and was so scared they were gonna right me off as whatever. Just the opposite they took it very seriously. I said it was not the location linked to my account and I do not want any fired I just want people aware of the consequences of what can happen with food allergies. It's not that i accepted another milk, i declined any milk as I like my coffee black. They put a milk based product in my coffee. I did tell them the actual location. The situation was handled very well.
People are quite shocked I didn't proceed with anger after I explained my allergy and that I just wanted education. People do not learn from anger. They learn from compassion and education. When people order a drink they want exactly what they order. They order what is safe for them to eat or drink. This is a huge opportunity to explain. Allergies can kill. You could have killed me, especially since I have compromised airways due to CF. I am so blessed I had a nurse with me. I am so blessed I had the opportunity to act instead of react. I also wonder what type of education baristas have on Food Allergies. Has this one person ever dealt with them before?? Has she had proper education?? If I don't educate then who will?? I am OK and still on a decent amount of benadryl but I am so blessed this wasn't a worse reaction because food allergies are deadly. They can kill people. You hear about a food allergy and do not quite understand them ask the person to clarify. We are MORE then happy to educate you. I will kindly explain what an allergy TRULY is and what an intolerance is.
Food Allergies are anything that compromises the immune system. Its systemic and affect the lungs, heart, skin, airways, and digest system. It is immediate. Some people present with hives, some present with wheezing, and other present with other various symptoms. Action needs to be immediate and if someone ask for help let them instruct you further. All items being used on the persons food need to be cleaned as well as your hands. Alway always always take any allergy seriously!! Please be aware of all this and further educate yourself on anaphylaxis.
Love Y'all
~Poppet
