With EoE, Allergies, Asthma and a G-Tube

Operation Keep Tinleigh Safe

So just how are we keeping Tinleigh safe at school?20170909_121122

Last year at the end of the school year Tinleigh and I were lucky enough to go to the school together for two whole days and shadow a kindergarten class. It was so much fun. We learned different things that may hurt Tinleigh that we hadn’t thought of.

So here is our list of what needs to be done for Tinleigh.

  1. Tinleigh is allowed at anytime to say to any teacher “I don’t feel safe and I AM going to the Nurse’s office.” I wanted to let Tinleigh know that if she’s uncomfortable around anyone or anything that she has a safe place to go. Teachers don’t know Tinleigh yet and something may happen that may not cross their mind as being unsafe for Tinleigh.
  2. Tinleigh does not go to the lunch room except for the end of the day after it’s been cleaned. They serve breakfast in the morning so she can’t go there after drop off before the bell rings. She hangs out in the nurses office until the bell rings. During lunch Tinleigh goes back to the nurses office. Tinleigh doesn’t mind this at all. She loves helping the nurse with tasks and chatting with everyone working in the office. She’s become their daily entertainment.
  3. 20170915_212734Tinleigh’s lunch bag is left in the nurses office. It never gets the chance to be mixed  among the other lunch bags.
  4. After lunch every kindergartener must clean their hands before going to recess.
  5. Tinleigh has a special table in the art room that is wiped down before she enters. They also bought her, her own art supplies that no one else can touch. The art teachers nephew has EoE as well, she gets it.
  6. In computer class Tinleigh’s keyboard is wiped down and she has a specific one she sits at everytime.
  7. For both Gym and recess Tinleigh gets her belly wrapped with an ace bandage to protect her button from getting bumped or pulled out.
  8. Afternoon snack is on the playground. If a child chooses to eat their snack they sit in a special area. They must clean their hands before going to play.
  9. Tinleigh’s teacher contacts me if she ever has a question about letting Tinleigh use anything.
  10. Tinleigh never rides the bus. Nathan drops her off in the morning and I pick her up after school just like we’ve always done with the boys.
  11. In the classroom Tinleigh does not share her supplies with her table. She has a little carrier that she keeps her things in.
  12. Tinleigh wears her feeding tube backpack twice at school for an hour each time. The kids in her class know what it is and have learned not to touch her while she wears it.
  13. The first week of school I went into the class and read the Tubey book to the class. Tinleigh showed them her button and we allowed the kids to ask questions. I just explained how everyone is made different and this is a special way that Tinleigh is different. I love that age, they’re all so accepting to differences.
  14. Before school started the teachers were taught more on allergies and made aware there would be a child with airborne allergies coming to the school.
  15. She is never allowed to drink out of the drinking fountain.

20170821_150218I am somewhat comfortable with Tinleigh being in school. I have never seen a child so excited about her days. The day she got her first library book she came yelling down the car line “MOM, MOM, look! My first library book!” School is definitely Tinleigh’s thing. I am SO glad we made the decision to try and make it work for her. I feel we have some really good rules in place for her safety. Almost everyday I still fear I will get a phone call that something has happened. I still have the same fear with the boys. I don’t think it will ever go away.

I feel so fortunate that we have landed in one of the best school districts. If they weren’t so willing to really sit down and figure things out it never would have worked out. For that I will forever be grateful.


September 15, 2017 Posted by | LIVING, Tinleigh's allergies | , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments


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