| About The Author |
Ellen Ferrell is a high school special education teacher with a master of
education degree in curriculum and instruction.
The experience that she draws upon to write this book came from her
life as a mother and as a teacher. Ellen's oldest daughter, Grace, was
diagnosed with life threatening food allergies in October of 2003 when
she was just over two years old. Grace had a newborn baby sister,
Anna. Ellen has often said that she can remember the exact moment
that her whole life changed. The allergist performed the "skin prick"
test on an average day while they colored and sang and waited. After
reading the results, the doctor invited Ellen and Grace into her office
and explained the results. The doctor held an Epi-Pen trainer in her
hand and asked Ellen if she was familiar with an Epi Pen. The allergist
explained, "This is a life saving, single dose shot of epinephrine..."
For two weeks, Ellen fell apart quietly despite the consolation of those
she loved. She was devastated and afraid. Knowing that her child
needed a single dose life saving shot of epinephrine was terrifying.
Then one morning, at 6:30, Ellen cried the tears of a baby as her
husband held her before he left for work. For some reason, that was
the day Ellen stopped falling apart. Later that day a sign went up on the
pantry door identifying Grace's food allergies and plans for managing
the food allergies began to take shape.
Those times, where the need for quick and accurate information and
understanding were so great, are where the idea for this book was
born.
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