From Crisis to Care

When Gage was a toddler, a few bites of cashew hummus sent him to Phoenix Children's Emergency Department with a life-threatening allergic reaction. After the immediate crisis had passed, Gage's parents talked with Cindy Salm Bauer, MD, division chief and medical director of Allergy and Immunology at Phoenix Children's, to understand what his diagnosis meant for their family.

“After treating Gage, Dr. Bauer gave us a call and literally was on the phone with us for about an hour and a half, talking to us about the next steps, what to do. We learned so much,” says Bill, Gage's dad.

According to Dr. Bauer, food allergies and other allergic conditions have been on the rise for several decades. Caring for a child with food allergies has a major impact on a family's everyday life, says Dr. Bauer.

“These families have to live differently. They have to be prepared and look ahead, always thinking of their child’s safety,” she says. “Living with a food allergy affects families every day, every moment, every gathering, every important event, because food is often at the core of what we do.”

Thanks to generous support from our community, Phoenix Children's is expanding the Allergy and Immunology Clinic to serve the growing number of children with allergies and immune disorders.