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Triple Threat

parenting triplets in the Capital District

A family to be thankful for

Steuer household bands together when life-threatening allergy strikes triplet

For many moms, there feel will make us smile. We will beautiful face. Seeing my child there was no improvement so a are certainly times that keep laughing over the inside in such a state made my body second shot was necessary. From will be burned into your jokes about key lime pie and go cold. My brave girl came to the time Olivia ate the cookie to memory for the rest of corn bread as we do the dishes. me, and there was no question the second Epi-Pen, five minutes your life. Many of these mo- Long after the meal is done, we that she needed the Epi-Pen. I had passed. Those five minutes ments will be happy, the others will still be talking and looked into her eyes and were the most terrifying minutes … not so much. remembering family felt time stop. I saw of my life. November is a tough month for many families, and this year isn’t any easier. Many of us just can’t face Thanksgiving and all of its trappings this year. This year, Harlan, Rebecca, Benjamin, Olivia, my mom and I will hopefully gather around the table with bowls of mashed potatoes and turnips sending up ribbons of steam, beckoning us to come sit and be happy. Our that isn’t with us. In September, one of my biggest fears came true: Olivia had a reaction to something she ate. Within two minutes of eating a cookie – she has had all the ingredients with no issues before – Olivia’s mouth began to swell and hives danced that visceral fear and tears running down her swollen cheeks. We both knew what was at stake: her life. I grabbed the box of EpiPens and through rote memory from many, many practice shots and tutorials from Certified Allergy and Asthma, I pressed the applicator to her by Jennifer Steuer The entire family knew this was serious, and everyone jumped into action. I don’t know how an emergency could have gone more smoothly. Harlan had been in the garage; Rebecca ran and let him know what happened. Benjamin called 911 and gave them all the information necessary. My mom went outside to wave down the police, firetrucks and ambulance. plates will overflow with salad, across her tongue, inside her thigh. Olivia was so brave! After turkey and rolls. The love we mouth and spilled out onto her the Epi-Pen and two Benadryl, Continued on Page 7

To all of our ESSENTIAL WORKERS

A Heartfelt Thank You!

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We got Olivia outside and sat her in a lawn chair so there would be room for the emergency workers to help her. Her heart was beating so fast from epinephrine and fear. This terrified every single one of us. I couldn’t worry about anything in those moments because I was focused on whether Olivia could breathe. I watched the EMTs check her over, give her oxygen and strap her on the stretcher. Olivia was pale and looked so small. I rode with her to the emergency room with prayers flying through my mind to my lips. I prayed for my daughter to be protected. This was life and death.

At the pediatric emergency room, every single person treated Olivia with kindness and compassion. The nurses kept both of us informed about the plans for treatment and what the best and worst case scenarios could entail. I sat next to Olivia’s bed and held Olivia Steuer recently had a harrowing allergic reaction to something she ate. After an ambulance ride and emergency room visit, her family is very thankful for her recovery.

her hand. We watched a movie, which was a great distraction for us. As emergency rooms and emergency situations go, we got lucky. We were blessed with a good outcome.

Olivia was diagnosed with peanut and tree nut allergies right before Thanksgiving in 2009. She wasn’t even two years old. (Fun fact: Peanuts are actually a legume and not a nut.) Since that day, we have done all we can to keep her safe. I had so much to be thankful that year. This year, I am so grateful for a family that pulled together to make sure that Olivia survived. Food allergies are not to be taken lightly. The struggle with food allergies is life and death. The allergens aren’t just in food. Take a look at cosmetics, shampoo, facial cleansers – many of them have almond oil, ground walnuts, shea butter, and there is always the chance of cross contamination.

I sit back thinking of how my family is doing and honestly can say we are doing OK. Benjamin, Rebecca and Olivia may argue and get on each other’s nerves but at the end of the day there is love. We stand by our family and we raise each other up. No matter how much fighting happens when Olivia needed Benjamin and Rebecca’s help no one hesitated to help. That is what I am most thankful this year and every year: my family.

Jennifer Steuer is an Albany mom whose busy household includes her husband, Harlan, and 12-year-old triplets Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca. Follow her on Instagram: jennifersteuer.

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