Trace Adkins Heartbroken by Daughter’s Food Allergy
When Trace Adkins battles in the boardroom on Celebrity Apprentice this January, he’ll be fighting for a cause close to his heart. Should he win, the towering country talent will donate the $250,000 prize to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). And just by appearing on the show, he hopes to raise awareness of the growing numbers of people, especially children, with food allergies — like his 6-year-old daughter, Brianna.
“My little girl is cursed with severe food allergies. She’s allergic to all nuts, all dairy and eggs,” says Adkins. “It’s something we deal with and have to be vigilant about on a daily basis. We have to keep the Benadryl, the Epi-pen, all that stuff.
“It’s heartbreaking,” he continues. “My wife and I are brought to tears regularly because Brianna can’t go to her little friends’ birthday parties and have cake and ice cream and everything that they get to have. We can’t really go out and have a meal anymore, because people at restaurants just aren’t aware enough of the severity of it and what it takes to cause a reaction. They don’t understand that if a surface was used to prepare something that had dairy in it, no matter how well you clean that surface, those proteins are still there. And if you prepare my daughter’s food there, she’s going to have a reaction.
“There are three million school-age kids and 12 million people overall in this country today who have severe food allergies. It’s deadly. It can kill people,” Adkins says. “So I’m just trying to raise awareness of the extent of this problem.”
Theories abound on why food allergies are on the rise. One component could be the preservatives used in vaccines. Others point to the widespread use of household disinfectants that keep children in a practically germ-free zone, preventing their immune systems from developing properly. Increasing nut allergies could be due to preparation: Most Americans eat nuts that have been roasted at high temperatures which could possibly release more of the allergen in the nut.
Those and many other theories are being investigated, and Adkins hopes more widespread awareness of the problem will lead to some answers. “There’s something we’re doing that’s causing this,” says Adkins. “Whether it’s environmental or something else, I don’t know, but when I was a kid, I didn’t know anyone with food allergies. Nowadays it’s so much more common.”
L.A. Rozzell says:
GO Trace!!! More people like you would be so nice in our world today.
Joy says:
Thank you, Mr. Adkins, for speaking up for food allergies. I was so excited to see you step up as National Honorary Walk Chair for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). I understand everything you are going through because of my daughter’s allergies to milk and peanuts. Although I share your fears and frustrations, I’m thankful that we are blessed to have you as a spokesperson because of your daughter’s food allergies. I pray for many blessings to you, and may your daughter’s Epi-pen gather dust from lack of use!
Joy Reid,
Whey-Out Chocolate, Inc.
“Just Desserts for People with Food Allergies”
http://www.wheyoutchocolate.com
anne reyna says:
Thank you Trace for sharing your story. We have a three year old boy who has been in intensive care and who has also been to the emergency room on numerous occasions because of anaphylaxis, which have led to respiratory failure and severe hypotension. He has peanut, egg, wheat, tree-nut, barley and latex allergies. It has been a very scary couple of years for us as a family, and seeing your efforts and knowing we’re not alone in making people aware is very comforting and assuring. We appreciate everything you are doing in helping to support a cure.
Tricia- Chicago says:
As a society that is seeing escalating numbers of food allergies, I hope and pray for a better understanding and potentially a cure for severe allergies. Our son has severe alleries to Peanut and Soy. Trace’s comments about eating meals out are so true. Too many times we’ve been told that a restaurant item was soy free ultimately we wound up sick for days and/or in an emergency room. THANK YOU TRACE for bringing more attention and hopefully money to support more research! GO TRACE GO, WIN CELEBRITY APPRENTICE!!!
Lisa Tucci says:
Thanks Mr. Adkins for sharing your story. It got my and my husbands attention right away when you said your daughter has food allergies. Our son does not have food allergies, but he does have a genetic disease called pku. He, like your daughter, cannot have a lot of different foods. For example, he cannot have nuts, dairy, eggs, bread of any kind, meat of any kind, fish of any kind, or most boxed and frozen foods. He was born without the gene that he needs to process protein, therefore, when he eats too much protein, it goes straight into his bloodstream and to his brain, which can cause very bad things to happen. Pku is a very rare disease, about 1 in 25,000 births are pku. If it had not been diagnosed when my son was 2 weeks old, he would have been mentally retarded by the time he was 2 years old!
We have to keep him on a strict low protein diet. He has to drink a special formula which is VERY expensive. He can eat low protein foods, but they are also VERY expensive. Example, a loaf of low protein bread is almost $12.00. A pound of low protein pasta is $9.00. The list goes on and on. And the kicker is that most insurance companies are refusing to cover the foods, and sometimes the life saving formulas that so many of our pku children and also pku adults rely on for life. Our pku community has been looking for a spokesperson for pku for a long time. Someone that is a celebrity, and someone that knows what we are going through. I know your daughters allergy is not the same as pku, but I think you can sympathize and understand what we go through. If you would be at all interested in learning more, and possibly helping out a very worthy cause, you would have a lot of people across the US very grateful to you.
Thank you so much for your consideration.
dino_lisa86@yahoo.com
Stacey says:
When I heard about this on the apprentice I had to commnent on how wildtree has made such a difference with our family, all there products have no preservatives, additives, msg, or fillers. There is also a ton of items that are dairy, gluten, nut free, etc. Visit http://www.wildtree.com for more information.
Julie says:
I was visiting the FAAN web-site and saw that you support them and read your story about your daughter. I have a 2 year old daughter that has severe food allergies. She is allergic to milk, soy, eggs and shellfish. When she was only 6 months old in addition to those food allergies she was allergic to oat, corn and wheat. Until someone lives it, they don’t realize how hard and how much work food allergies can be. Also what a worry it is for a parent. I just hope and pray my daughter out grows them before she starts school. She has outgrown some of them and I hope and pray for the rest.
We don’t eat out much either, if we do, I take her meal with us. There needs to be more help for us, more foods for children, more recipes, support groups, etc. My daughter is allergic to milk and soy both which is extremely rare according to her doctor. It is so hard to find foods for her and is getting harder the older she gets, she wants what her older brother is having to eat. I appreciate what you are doing Trace, we are truly blessed to have you supporting us. It is comforting knowing we are not alone.
Christine says:
Hello Trace,
I have a 17 year old daughter that was having very bad head aches and was just recently diagnosed with “FOOD ALLERGIES”. Doctors couldn’t figure out what was causing her headaches and one day out of the blue I asked our Dr. what about “ALLERGIES”?? I was at a loss. I was so worried about my dfaughter and at this point was grasping a staws to try to figure out what was causing her headaches. After many tests, CT Scans and the list goes on and on our Dr. “FINALLY” did an “ALLERGY” blood test at my request and low and behold there was the problem. Alot of allergies to “FOODS as well as to trees, grass, mites, polins, “U”: name it she is allergic to it. Ajusting our easting habits has been a challenge to say the least. We recently had 47 skin test done on her and she was “POSITIVE” to 43 of the test. This is “SERIOUS” stuff and it needs to be taken seriously. My daughter now carries and EPI pen, rescue inhaler and is taking every allergy pill and nasal spray that “U” can be thought of. The real scar was when we were camping in a favorite spot of ours here in Northwestern Montana and she climbed out of the tent at 4AM in the morning and was having major problems breathing. Off we went to the emergency room with her witch was 45 minutes away. That litterally scared the lifef out of me.
Bless “U” and your family
Most Sincerely
Christine
Karen says:
Hi Trace:
I had food allergies when I was a kid. I put up with it til I was in my early twenties and then it just went away. I’m forty two now and can eat whatever I want with the exception of watching out for too much citric acid. I still have environmental allgeries-grass, dust, dust mites, cigarettes. I hope your little girl out grows this and I hope a cure is found. Hang in there and keep up the fight at least there are people trying to do something about allergies. When I was a kid I had to take Atarax for my allergies which knocked me out and then caused panic attacks when the medicine started leaving my system. At least your daughter is not in the “stone age” of medical technology. I’m sure it seems that way because she your daughter and you want her to be free of this torment.
Christina says:
My daughter suffers from the same food allergies - dairy, nuts, eggs. Every family in this situation knows how much it affects your lifestyle. Everything surrounding food becomes an issue and you have to educate everybody around you to understand what is ok or not ok. Cooking meals initially was a burden, but over time I’ve managed to assemble a decent cooking rotation. There are even pretty good cake recipes out there so yummy birthday cakes are not off limits (!). I’ve recently started a blog to capture all the great recipes and foods out there that don’t include dairy, nuts, or eggs. These are “regular” recipes you find on mainstream recipe sites and not the kind you need to substitute a lot of ingredients for. Hopefully it will help others out there struggling with the same issue.
http://eatfreely.blogspot.com/
Debbie says:
Thanks for raising food allergy awareness, Trace. You’re doing a terrific job on Apprentice, and we’re all pulling for you to win for your charity! It’s great to watch you “in action” every week and I know your family is proud! Your daughters are lucky to have such a caring Dad, and one that conducts himself as a gentleman under the stressful conditions of the show. Best of luck!
Debra says:
hello trac,
when i was around 5yrs. old i went to visit my cousin in mineral va. the next morning when i woke up my eyes were swollen shout and looked like i had 2 golf balls for eyes. i went to the dr. and i had allergies also. i had the skin test done and i too was allergic to everything.i had to take shots 3x wk. and pills 3x daily and still had symptons.when i was around 10yrs. old i remembering going to church one night ( the old time holy rolling shouting churches) they had a pray tunnel and asked if anyone wanted healings,saved or touched by God. i got up and went through myself and from that night on i never had any swollen eyes or allergies every again until this day still.. thanks to Gods healing touch!! so trust,believe and pray can help!!!
Kim Shea-Benham says:
Hi Trace,
My son, Nicholas also suffers from life threatening allergies. He’s allergic to Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Shellfish and Amoxicillin. Like you, we have had to modify our lifestyle in order to support his. I agree, it’s heartbreaking to have our kids miss out on such simple pleasures(and miles stones)such as eating a friend’s birthday cake with ice cream as part of the party’s celebration. We carry our Epi-Pen everywhere we go and thankfully we’ve never had to use it. Thank you for lending your support to help create awareness about this very serious and fast growing epidemic. Nicholas enjoyed seeing you in a recent copy of the FAAN kid’s newsletter he receives by mail. We’re FAAN’s of your music, too :-).
Best Regards,
Kim
Susan Cameron says:
Dear Trace,
Wow nice to see someone on the fight for allergies. My name is Susan Cameron a single mother of 4 kids, 3 girls and a special need son. I am also anaphylaxis to all Fish and seafood. I am an Inventor of an Allergy Aware System product that I am currently going to bring to the market. I have patent pending and yes my Idea is original. But it is about the saftey of everyone and I can sure tell you I have spent one to two many times in Intensive care because of restaurant mistakes. I hope my sytems will bring light to the end of the tunnel for those who suffer like your kids and bring family and friends out to eat without reactions.My reason for writing is maybe to connect and maybe further each others support in bringing Allergy Awarness one more step ahead. I am not asking for funds . I have brought my product together on my own and I really can’t wait. I will have a website up and running in the next month and I would be more than happy to send it to you if your interested. Maybe we can collabrate together in this fight in the near future. I also have 4 other original Idea’s for further development in helping in the prevention and Awareness of Allergies.
I really hope to hear a response.
Thanks for reading ,
Susan Cameron
Courtenay , British Columbia, Canada
e-mail sfcameron@shaw.ca
Take care, Trace and Family.
Gluten Free Mama says:
Trace, First I want to thank you for your incredible character you display on the apprentice. I am very impressed. Second, I admire your desire to be a spokesperson for the food allergy charity. I too am a parent with a child with food issues. Although not annaphalactic it is still serious and has changed our lives. She has gluten intolerance, cannot have dairy, or soy. We have had to change our entire lifestyle too. But as a parent you will do anything you can to make your children’s lives as normal as possible. We took a lemon situation and made lemonade by starting a gluten free company and writing a gluten free cookbook. I try to make her life be just like anyone elses by always having safe foods in the freezer to take to birthday parties and school etc. Anyway, proud of the work you are doing. Keep up the good work!
The Gluten Free Mama, Rachel Caryle-Gauthier
Sandy says:
Trace,
My son has allergic eosinophilic esophagitis. At one time he had twenty food allergies. Some kids end up on feeding tubes with an amino acid formula. I was determined to keep this from happening so I spent two years coming up with special recipes that even kids without allergies would like. Concerning your daughter’s egg allergy: Get a Betty Crocker cookbook. Make chocolate snack cake. It doesn’t call for eggs or milk. Whenever you see milk in cooking substitute soy milk. It will not be detected. Despite the seriousness of my son’s allergies, I use Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips. They are not made on a dedicated line, but they are made first in the day and the first two batches are thrown out to decrease potential contamination. We have never had a problem and are so thankful to this company for using such care to provide a relatively safe product. Please check out the APFED website for more info on this allergic disease. I know you will find it interesting and you might want to work together at raising awareness. I’ve been doing this for eight years. If I can be of help to you please contact me!
Kelly Morrow says:
My two children have severe food allergies — to milk, eggs, soy, and peanuts. The hardest part is when the kids go to an event and there is food there that they can’t have, and I didn’t know about it. My kids feel really left out. Awareness of food allergies, that they are not just a tummyache, is so important!! My kids don’t get invited to other kids’ homes to play because the parents are scared of the food allergies. It’s sad. Since we’ve been at this for 11 years now (my oldest is 12), I have found many, many allergy-free recipes and products that my kids can have, so they do without very little. I am able to match many things for them.
To the Adkins Family: Hang in there; there are many, many families dealing with the same thing! Stay positive for your daughter. She CAN have a very normal life!
Lisa says:
My husband and I are avid Apprentice watchers and are routing for Trace to win. Our 2 1/2 year old son also has severe multiple food allergies that can kill him. People really aren’t aware of the severity of allergies and if Trace being on the show can help spread that awareness and save even 1 child from accidentally getting a reaction, then he’s making a huge difference! THANK YOU, TRACE!!!
Brenda in TN says:
Thank you for helping to raise awareness about food allergies, Mr. Adkins. Our family is also affected by food allergies. Our 9 year old son, Brady and 5 and 1/2 year old daughter, Brianna are both allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. Our daughter is allergic to 15 total foods as well as indoor and outdoor things and has severe eczema. She has sleepless nights when she is scratching and crying miserably due to her allergies. We have made drastic lifestyle changes and cry many tears like you because of many issues in dealing with this. It is so amazing the things you can do to food and change in recipes so that your kids can have things others are eating (maybe minus the eggs, soy, nuts, etc…) Thank you again so much for helping to raise awareness in this serious growing health issue. We really appreciate it.
jessica in michigan says:
i have a nephew with the same allergies as your daugher. i was wondering how you would make her birthday cakes. if there was a special site or something to go on to find the reciepes.
Beach Daddy says:
Hello Trace,
It’s heartbreaking to hear stories like yours, but unfortunately it’s all too common. Our food supply and the oversight bodies have been polluted and compromised for the sake of profits and power, and they’ve had a 30 year head-start.
As Americans we are just now feeling the effects of 30 years of processed foods, additives, chemicals, pesticides, steroids, antibiotics, fillers & dyes.
Add to that genetic engineering, and pharmaceutical remedies that can have side effects sometimes worse than the disease, and you have a toxic cocktail that is the cause of all the latest boutique chronic diseases like:
Autism (ASDs), Asthma, Arthritis, ADD, IBS, Colitis, Crohn’s disease, IC, and other chronic illnesses that are manifesting themselves as we ingest more powerful and dangerous elements into our bodies.
We vaccinate our children at 1 day old with 9 viruses and a dose of mercury 188 times acceptable standards for Adults! Hmmn? I wonder if the 6,000% increase in Autism (ASDs) might have something to do with that?
So, where does that leave the unfortunate souls who suffer with these diseases on a daily basis? It’s time to change our way of thinking about foods; hell, it’s time to change how we eat, and what we eat to really make a difference.
But how do you know which foods you might be allergic to?
A simple IgG blood test can determine exactly which foods test positive for food allergies. This compliment antigen test combined with an immune complex screening will give the most accurate results. Once you’ve identified the foods you’re allergic to, you simply eliminate them from your diet for a minimum 6 week period, and eat only foods that have shown to be good for you. After 6 weeks the patient’s immune system has calmed down, and the symptoms will have abated. Then the Patient begins a challenge phase where they try the foods that tested positive in a regimented 4-day rotation. Some foods that tested positive may have been reacting because of the immune system damage, and are perfectly safe once the immune system is more normal. Others will always trigger a hypersensitive reaction, so avoid them forever.
It’s really very simple. Eat less junk and processed foods, identify which foods you’re allergic to and stay away from them, and everyone will be healthier and happier.
Go to: http://www.foodallergytest.com
Katie L. in NJ says:
Hi Trace,
I am the mother of a peanut,tree-nut, and mustard allergic 6 year old son and am thrilled to see you representing FAAN on celebrity Apprentice. FAAN has made such a difference in our lives by consolidating all the relevant information for parents of food allergic children. I hope that you win!! You have done such a great thing by participating in the show and raising awareness of the seriousness of food allergy. PS- I am also a huge country music fan. Keep rockin! I wish you and your family the best in managing your daugter’s allergies.
DEBRA NIMTZ says:
HI TRACE IAM SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR DETERMINATION ON APPRENTICE PLEASE TAKE IT ALL FOR YOUR VERY IGNORED CHARITY FAAN. I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WITH MULTIPLE ALLERGIES TOO MANY TO LIST AND ON MANY OCCASIONS I CRY BECAUSE OF OUR SURROUNDINGS AND HOW IGNORATE PEOPLE ARE EVEN OTHER MOTHERS WHICH IS EVEN MORE SAD. MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE JUST JOINED A LOCAL MEETING GROUP CALLED NO NUTZ MAMAS AND WE LOVE IT SO MUCH INFO. AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT AND RELATE TO OTHERS IT IS GREAT. WE ARE DOING THE FAAN WALK ON SEPT.27 HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME AND JOIN US? YOU HAVE OPENED A HUGE DOOR BY BEING VERY HONEST AND CHARITABLE, WHY ARE PEOPLE SO AFRAID OF ACKNOWLEDGING THIS DISEASE. THANK YOU AND TRY TO COME TO CHICAGO LOOK FOR OUR TSHIRTS [NO NUTZ MAMAS] GRANDMA DEBI
Melisa says:
Trace ~ I cannot thank you enough for the countless hours you have contributed to help my daughter, as well as millions of others who are affected by food sensitivities.
Thank you for all that you do, and for taking time away from your family so that you can help ours. It is so important to raise awareness about food sensitivities, as unless you live in a bubble, your lives are affected by other people’s food choices.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely, Melisa Priem
Author of 8 DEGREES OF INGREDIENTS, a hypoallergenic cookbook for those with food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances, and the people who cook for them!www.EightDegreesofIngredients.com
Tammie says:
Trace, my heart goes out to you, your wife and your daughter. That must be a terrible thing to have to deal with, especially when it’s on a constant basis. I do hope you win Celebrity Apprentice…. not just because I’m a fan, but more importantly, so your charity will receive the much-needed funds so that they can further research this problem. May God bless you all, especially little Brianna!
Tammie
Melinda in TN says:
Trace,
Being a country fan, I have always loved your music and style. Learning that we have the same concern (a peanut-allergic child) has made you very dear and close to my heart. Reading your story was like reading my own - my son had his first introduction and horrific anaphalytic reaction to peanut butter at 18 months. The scariest part was that I wouldn’t have recognized my own child had I not known what he was wearing (his whole face looked deformed from the swelling).
I so appreciate your bringing food allergies to the whole world. So many times, I am confronted with the people questioning the severity of his peanut allergy. It is a daily constant battle to keep him in a peanut-free environment. The biggest challenge is public school - we have had to fight to get a peanut-free table that only he and another child with a food allergy are allowed to sit. Getting the classrooms to be peanut-free makes for an isolated child who also doesn’t get to participate at friend’s birthday parties, or other fun events. Kids that make fun of him for carrying an epi-belt and inhaler on him. And it’s only starting for our kids - this will go on throughout their lives - the isolation and being left out.
I pray that your epi pen has to be refilled due to expiration versus usage as our son has been so lucky to have happen. He has only have 3 reactions since his 18 months (2 of those at elementary school).
Anyway - I absolutely love your bringing attention to our kid’s plight in life. We will fight with you to the end of times for awareness and possible cure! I do have an idea for you to help raise additional awareness and donations for FAAN - feel free to email me (hrtofluv@comcast.net) anytime.
God bless your family!
Kelli says:
Thank you for all you do on behalf of our little ones with food allergies. My son is three and suffers from milk, peanut, egg, and shellfish allergies. I feel your pain and pray that we will one day have a cure for food allergies. Keep up the good work and know that it is much appreciated!
Xelpha says:
I love seeing that you are making the severity of food allergies known to the rest of the world. People just don’t take it seriously. My son is 3 and is MISERABLE every single day and night of his life due to food allergies. The drs say there is nothing else they can do to give him any relief. It only takes a trace of soy, egg, peanuts, or tomatoes to give him weeks/months of misery. I cry every night with him because I can’t help him.
Teri says:
Dear Trace,
I’m sorry your daughter and family have joined the ranks of all of us affected by allergies. I have suffered food, environment, and medication allergies for quite sometime but it wasn’t until 4 years ago when a restaurant made a huge mistake that almost cost me my life. I had an anaphylactic reaction to crab which led to being hospitalized and intubated so many times that I’ve had to keep tally marks to keep track. Unfortunately what many people don’t realize is that you can also have long term affects from an anaphylactic reaction. Due to my reaction and multiple intubations it did permanent damage to my vocal cords, and stomach which has taken me from an active hard working mom and grandma to a disabled woman waking each day glad to be alive to hold my grandbabies while being extremely limited due to my disabilities.
Unfortunately or fortunately through my experiences I have discovered that the blood Iga tests are only 65-70% accurate with skin tests being more 90% accurate. Many Dr.’s and professionals out there may want you to try the food elimination diet but if like me your loved one has the potential to have a severe allergy to an item do you really want to risk it? for me I am 4 years out from my initial anaphylactic reaction and still I react just as strongly to everything I was tested to, so please be extremely careful with your loved ones and fight for them, we really need to get the message out there to protect those we love
stacy says:
hi trace i was thrilled to see that you are supporting the food allergies. my son was born allergic to soy and milk protein and tested negative for all other allergies. i went and got him a flu shot and 2 weeks later he was breaking out in hives and we were unable to feed him hardly anything. we had him tested and he was allergic to corn, wheat, all nuts, eggs, milk and soy. there isnt a doubt that the flu shot did it. it speeded up his immune system. you tell a doctor that and he just looks at me like i am crazy. i was feeding him 12 eggs a day and never had a problem with anything else corn all those things. it is just so weird that all of a sudden he cant eat anything 2 weeks after the flu shot. if the flu shot made his immune system rev up then it would go back down over time. and it has been a year now he is so much better. i am able to feed him wheat and some things in it with corn and he hasnt had any hives or excema in 8 or 9 months. the problem with everyone is its not that they dont care they are just uneducated about the whole allergy thing. when you dont deal with food allergies people dont realize how serious they are. even my mom is saying cant you give him something with milk if it is the last ingredient. NO he has an immediate response and he will throw up and hopefully not stop breathing. the restaurants totally dont care. we havent gone out to eat in 6 years. awareness is the only thing that will bring people to realize how hard it is on these children. in school they have their parties and with all the milk proteins laying around not aware that is could kill my child. you try to explain to them but they really cant understand this is so dangerous. this is the hardest thing seeing my son upset so much because he cant go to parties or eat the stuff that other children can. I am so thankful that you are bringing awareness about this . we went to the pretzel shop and i asked the girl can you tell me what is in your pretzels she said there is no milk. she fixes my daughter a pretzel dips it in the butter with her thongs and grabs my sons pretzelthat had butter all over the thongs and gives it to him and gets butter on the end of his pretzel. . i jerked it out of his hand while he was screaming because she wasnt aware that butter had milk. people arent educated about the allergies.even in restaurants. we cant even go into a restaurant and ask for an ingredient list. thanks again for bringing awareness.
Jennifer from MN says:
Trace-
Thank you so much for bringing awareness to this deadly condition. My 22 month old son is allergic to dairy, eggs, wheat, pork, beef and nuts. We have trained our family and day care providers on how to use the Epi-pen and what to look for in an allergic reaction.
We carry an Epi-pen everywhere we go.
Bless you and your family, and thank God you were given your celebrity status to spread the word and raise money!
Jennifer
Minnesota
Marsha says:
Trace:
You showed the world what a true gentleman looks like. I am glad to see people like you take up the cause of allergies in this country. I suffer from some food allergies, but am extremely sensitive to all the chemicals found in so many of the products in cleaning and personal care. I know exactly what you mean when you say people just don’t understand that a minute amount of anything can cause a reaction. Good luck and God bless your efforts.
Linda says:
Trace,
Thank you for bringing this problem to the forefront. My daughter is 9 and severely allergic to peanuts. It is a constant worry and we were like you, found out before she was two and never realized such an allergy exists. Over the years, I wonder what I could have done differently or wish I could take the peanut allergy on for her and let her have a carefree childhood. I worry about her when she is in middle school and more on her own. Just a family vacation on an airplane keeps me up at night with worry. She has only flown once and was fine (peanut free flight), but this summer hope to go to Mexico (the flight has me worried). I think raising awareness, like you are doing is wonderful. Please keep raising money and awareness and maybe someday we can get a vaccine.
Angie says:
7 year old allergic to sugar!
How much worse could it be??? But she is tough, and she knows it makes her sick. Yeast, gluten, dairy…sometimes soy, corn, it constantly changes.
She has behavior-related reactions to dyes, additives and preservatives, even down to the shampoo and toothpaste, soap and markers.
We think she also may have PYROLURIA, if anyone has had experience with these things combined we would love to talk to you.
Anyone reading this please, please email me if you can help us with any of this. She has severe anxiety and is now homeschooled. This is the toughest test for her and our family, and I am just so thankful that this has been brought to the attention to people who just don’t “get it”.
Thank you,
angie
email: dingianni@mac.com
Beth says:
Trace, I am a 60 year old woman who has a severe allergy to eggs–including smelling them when they are heated (that includes any food product that has egg in it). Restaurants, airports, parties, family events are difficult for me to negotiate. I can’t imagine how terrifying it was for my parents to allow me to go to a friends home, possibly having a snack or that the mom puts a meatloaf (kept together with egg)in the oven while I’m there. I’ve had this allergy my whole life and, yes, it has limited my life; but, you deal with what you have been given. I can make all kinds of cakes and cookies–sure they are different–but I’ve never missed out! The amazing thing is that neither of my children are allergic to any foods nor are my grandchildren. My sister has no food allergies, nor do her children. I’m not sure if there were less allergies–perhaps in my time children died from an allergic reaction and the doctors didn’t realize that was the cause of death–or we are more aware of allergies today or there really are more allergies. Eventually we will have the answers. I really appreciate FAAN. I receive their email alerts to product contamination. My husband and I are cheering you on! Hopefully, FAAN will be the recipient of your skill and kindness.
Brenda from Florida says:
I am really pulling for you to win on Thur. night against Piers. I have a grandson that has very severe food allergies, along with the outside allergies, plus having eczema. I pray that there will be a breakthrough for all these children suffering from these allergies. I don’t know how the parents stay sane, trying to come up with something the children can eat and my heart goes out to the other children in the family, such as my other grandson, who has had to give up a lot of foods he loves due to his brother having these food allergies. Thank you for what you’re doing, Trace and may God bless you.
Renee in NEPA says:
Trace,
I’m not a big country music fan, but I am of Celebrity Apprentice. Each week the way you compose yourself I have become a fan of yours. The first time I heard you say that your charity was the FAAN network, my chin hit the floor.
When you said your daughter had life threatening food allergies I was able to relate to you on a personal level. I have a son, who was diagnosed at 2 years old with food and enviromental allergies. He is now 12. We too carry benadryl and the epi-pen everywhere he goes. We’ve given up many things because of his life threatening allergies, but I also tell him that if this is the worst thing in life for him he is still pretty lucky. We just need to stay villigant for a life time.
I just wanted to say Good Luck and God Bless to your family and all the families that go through this every day of their lives.
We are all united together for the villigance of keeping our children safe.
Janet says:
Hi Mr. Adkins,
I’ve been watching you on the Celebrity Apprentice & I hope you win! I appreciate your passion regarding your daughters food allergies! It is heartwarming! Most people are unable to really comprehend it. I am an adult who has been able to eat just about everything my entire life. Over the past 10-15 years, I have been able to eat less and less. Initially, I was only allergic to dairy products and God blessed me to be able to cook and still enjoy my meals! Now, I am allergic to dairy, some nuts, wheat & other grains, peanuts, tofu, and some fruits and some vegetables. I can totally empathize with your daughter’s challenges to eating meals out. I, too, have the same challenges and it really threatens to take the fun out of the whole experience. Most of everyone’s activities revolve around eating! My husband shared with me that he has cried tears over my situation & I have too! Indeed, it continues to be a tremendous challenge and without God bolstering me, I would feel pretty helpless. I have done research on the internet, to little or no avail. In trying to get assistance from the doctors, I am running into a brick wall. I have been looking for a cause to volunteer to. I am interested in volunteering in organizations to help people with food allergies. I would love to hear from you.
Thank you again,
Janet
Rachel says:
I have severe food allergies and i am a huge fan of your music. i’m allergic to peanuts, pistachios, cashews, lentils, aluminum, peas, soy, chick peas, and black eyed peas. i also have allergies to dust mites, dogs, cats, and birds. it is so hard shopping for foods because nearly everything has soy in it. im really thankful to know that someone is trying to make it easier for people with food allergies. thank you so much.
-Rachel
Jaclyn says:
I know how it has to have food allergies. I am allergic to mint. The last time I had mint was when I was 7 and I ended up in the hospital for 30 days. I was so bad. Now I can’t eat it or smell it. When I go shopping with my mom to get toothpaste I have to wear a mask. I carry a epi pen with me too. I use strawberry toothpaste and I have to be careful around people who have mint gum or anything with mint. Thanks.
stacy says:
trace,
my two year old daughter also suffers from food allergy (peanut), so i understand your struggle. cross-contamination is a huge issue for us. this past sunday (easter) my own mother handed out peanut-butter cups and snickers to my nieces and nephews who began to eat the candy with my daughter sitting next to them. so it’s not just the public, but family and friends also don’t understand the severity of food allergies. they think she’s safe as long as she doesn’t consume peanuts.
good luck tonight on apprentice and god bless you and your family!!!
maya says:
Hey
i hope you win.Im sure you will. And i understand where you coming from.Goodluck.
vicky says:
Thank you for talkin about this problem. I know how it feels to stop your kids from goin to their friends birthday parties or even to their houses. I, like you, have kids with this problem. I have a little boy, 4, that can’t have milk products and he can’t have nuts. Then I have a girl, 8, that can’t have shell-fish. We have to have Benadryl, the Epi-pen, all that stuff, also. Thanks for all that you have done and what you will do for this cause. Thanks alot. We always new that you was the best but this really tops it..THANKS
Chanda4 says:
I just want to thank Trace(among millions of others) for bringing awareness to this subject. It hits close to home for us as well, I am a mother of 4, all with food allergies. 3 of my kids carry Epipens at all times. Like Trace, we’ve seen the inside of an ER room far too many times. Food allergies are our life, we’ve learned what we can and can’t do, and we continue on. Recently my 7yr old, his list of food has hit over 30 positive foods. He also has developed EE, which is allergy related(they call it *allergic esophogitis*) but he didn’t have enough foods left that he *could* eat, so he now has a feeding tube in his nose. Next month he will be getting a g-tube put in.
When your child has food allergies, you feel like you are against the world. You feel utterly alone and out of control. Even school becomes a danger to your child. Never would I have imagined fearing for my childs life as I send them off to school each morning, praying they return alive. I’ve made far too many enemies in our district because I want to protect my children’s lives. If food allergies could choose a spokesperson, I am glad Trace is our voice. You have done so much for these kids, for this community, Trace…….THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart!
HUGS-Brett, Chanda, Sidney, Jake, Carson and Savannah
Ruby Bell says:
Trace:
I truly hope you win tonight and I actually have found my self praying that you will win, but either way, I have very pleased to see what a gunine gentleman you truly are and the way you handle things with Piers, which is such a ugly talking person and still I hope you win big……….will be watching
Kim says:
My 6 year old daughter has had severe food allergies since birth. She was allergic to soy, wheat, all dairy, eggs, peanuts, strawberries, dogs and cats. Now she is able to have soy and wheat thank God. It is a huge daily challange to keep them safe when you are not around them, especially at school. My husband and I are constantly torn by what the “normal” child can do and what are daughter can’t and sees herself as “different”. She is a healthy beautiful girl and I hope one day we can find a reason for all the severe allergies that seem to be developing.
Cheryl DiBiase says:
I understand how you feel. I have spent my entire life deathly ill from a disease called Non Tropical Celiac Sprue. It wasn’t until I was on the brink of death requiring blood transfusions that the doctor’s paid enough attention to me to realize that I had a real disease. (they brushed off all my symptoms prior to that)
Now I live in constant terror of eating out. No one really understands that putting a gluten free product down on a counter where a piece of bread has been contaminates it so that I will get seriously ill if I eat it.
You are doing great work! IT is so hard to live in a world where being different means being an outcast. Keep up the great work.
Renee says:
Thank you very much Trace for supporting this terrible problem. My now 3 1/2 year old son, Joey, was diagnosed with severe food allergies when he was one year old. Although, he started showing signs of them as soon as we began feeding him food around 6 months old. We found out he is allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, oat, rice, chicken, corn, carrots, lemons and grapefruit. Neither my husband nor myself have any food allergies and we are completely baffled on how he got all these allergies. I believe it is in the preservatives in the foods I ate while pregnant and breastfeeding after. With my second son, who will be one in 2 weeks, I avoided peanuts and ate more natural foods. To date, he has shown no signs of any food allergies. Joey still has all of his food allergies, he has not outgrown any yet, but we pray that one day he will. It is now becoming harder to deal with holidays and preparing for school because he is more aware of what people eat and sometimes doesn’t understand why he can’t have it. I really hope that whatever the outcome of Celebrity Apprentice is, that people across the country will now be more aware of food allergies. THANK YOU!!!
Renee in Pa says:
Thank you so much Trace for being a spokesman for this issue and bringing so much attention to FAAN while you were on Celebrity Apprentice…my son has has severe food allergies since birth - we found out at 6 mos when we gave him his first cereal - allergic to it & at 18 mos. when we took our first visit to the ER, we realized just how severe they are…we have been living w/this now for 8.5 years & have been an avid supporter & member of FAAN - thank you for sharing your story & bringing this issue to so many people’s attention - I share your fears & appreciate your efforts.
Cathie of ATL says:
Thank you Trace!! I have suffered from food allergies and medicine allergies all my life of 47 years. I was born premature and because of that my complications were impacted more because my lungs were not fully developed to the point that I was baptized immediately and my mother was told I would not survive. Breathing during those years was tough and was thankful that I lived next door to my doctor. I still have these allergies to this day and still learn I could be allergic to something new. I carry an epipen everywhere I go. I am a flight attendant and travel around the world. I have learned to manage my allergies but wish I could just enjoy food like everyone else. I am allergic to most nuts, all melons, banana’s and egg yokes and other foods not mentioned. Also to add to that list medicines that could save my life, all antibiotics and sulfa’s, codiene and naproxin. I have learned to barrier myself to these allergies. Thank you for everything you do to make a difference to people who suffer from this. I am sure you will open people’s eyes to this more and make people be more understanding of it. Thank you and God bless you and your family : ))
Michelle Walters says:
Trace~
Thank you for bringing more awareness to the public about food allergies. My husband and I have 2 boys with allergies to peanuts, milk, shellfish and eggs.We were the first in our area to have anyone with allergies. So, we had to educate our school, friends, church and community about what food allergies are all about. It is so hard to send our children to school each day not knowing. At the time of our son’s diagnosis, we were very thankful to have FAAN to give us all the information that they did from the tips to the recipes to the articles to inform us what was being done.
Thanks again for bringing more awareness to this subject.
May God Bless You and your family.
Lesley says:
Dear Mr. Adkins,
My theory of the reason why so many children are having food allergies and adults is that the body recognizes the good along with the chemicals.
Some of the foods, take example ( a nut) are treated with chemicals to kill bugs etc.. or they spray areas where vast quantities of foods are to keep bugs out of the storage rooms is my guess.
So if the least little bit of that chemical gets hooked onto the food that the person is eating, then their body relates that poison with the food and it automatically gives an allergic reaction because its like an alarm that goes off inside the persons body.
So, now that is what it is. So we have to start feeding our children organic foods that are healthy without pesticides from birth.
A lot of foods have fillers in them and stuff that are put in there to make you WANT to get up out of bed at 2 am to crave it and to go to the store and buy it.
We have to protect our children against this and feed them natural organic foods no matter how hard and expensive it is to get it. We have to try…
So that is my theory. Kevin Trudou wrote a book about it, Maureen Salaman says we need minerals at http://www.mhclife.org and then there is that Pat Robinson who has that Hallelijah acres where they grow organic foods.
I use to eat anything I wanted and then one day I ended up in the hospital for eating cashews, once it was cheese crackers those little square ones. I have not had a little square cheese cracker or cashew for years. Once it was from eating salsberry steaks and instant mashed potatoes, once it was from eating raspberr taffy, and once heath bar ice cream. So, what I am saying is, is that there are chemicals that are in the foods..
Once I bought some onion rings from the grocery and I found black peices of rubber inside the bag.
Its the processed foods.. and the hormones. We have to feed them organic,and hormone free foods..
God bless…
Kind Regards,
Lesley
Jodie says:
My name is Jodie and I am from Long Island NY. I work in an acupuncture and wellness office. In our office they treat so many children with so many different food allergies sucessfully. I would like to share the information with Trace for his daughter Brianna. Please share my email with him.
Thank you
Connie says:
My heart goes out to you and your family … I myself have severe food allergies. This past November I ended up being placed on a resperator with 10 IV’s and my family was told I was in critical condition. I am lucky enough that I was shipped to a great hospital that provided me with great care (I am fine today). It was a scary experience and one I hope no one has to go through especially a small child.
My 6 year old son is now starting to develop reactions to different types of food and it is a constant worry that he will have to live with the issue food allergies bring to your everyday life; and it is hard to let them go to school and lead a normal life without wanting to be with them 24/7.
I appreciate you talking about this severe issue and how it affects the lives of the people who have the allergy and the stress it causes their loved ones. People have not been properly taught that food allergies are more then a rash/ hives … alot of people beleive that the person has to consume the item to have a reaction (my self I just need to smell it). Benadryl and Epi pens are a staple in my home, my purse and my office.
I agree with you that this is an issue that needs to be properly researched and educated through out the school system, health care system, and the overall public. It is an everyday battle to avoid certain items, an everyday worry to the family, a feeling of being left out because you can not participate in certain activities, go out for supper, have take out etc.
Food allergies change your life and the life of everyone around you. I appreciate everything you are doing and everything FANN is doing.
I wish you all the best and the best of health for you daughter.
Thanks
PS if there is anyway of us suporting in this great network please feel free to email us and we will support the cause.
Lynne says:
Hi Trace,
I am from Canada and have been watching The Celebrity Apprentice from the beginning. I am speechless that you did not win tonight! I have one question for Mr. Trump and if I can find his websight, I will ask the same of him. If one person has a million dollars in their bank account and gives a begger $500,000.00 and another person has ten dollars in their account and gives that begger $10.00. who gave the most money?
Gloria Marshall says:
I just watched the fianle of the Celebrity Apprentice Trace, and In my opinion, Donald Trump picked the wrong man to win this thing. I thought you were going to win hands down! Just think how much more money that Piers could have raised for his charity had he used tact like Ivanka pointed out (VERY WELL I might add). LOL! loved that! and not pissed off all the people on his teams along the way. In my opinion that is no way to do business.
I have a question: I was hoping to hear The Backstreet Boys make an announcement at the end of thier performance that they were making a donation to your charity or both of the charities. (especially after all the running around you did for them!) Did they? what the hell is wheat grass juice anyway? sounds disgusting. LOL!
So Trace In my mind you were the winner of this thing. My heart goes out to your daughter Briannna. I am not able to at the moment right now financially but as soon as I am able I will be making a donation to your charity. and the next time you are In the Virginia Beach area performing, I would love to attend one of your concerts. Love your music.
Sincerely,
Gloria Marshall,
Virginia Beach, VA
Sandy says:
I have a nephew with multiple food allergies…all dairy, eggs, potato, pork, beef and more. I use Cherrybrook Kitchen’s cake mix, along with Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Classic White icing to decorate all of his birthday cakes. Cupcakes (using the Cherrybrook Kitchen’s cake mix) and sugar cookies (using their sugar cookie mix) turn out especially well and are delicious. The birthday cakes have been eaten and enjoyed by all of his classmates so that’s a sure test for taste. We have also found that he can now “eat out” at Subway because they have several breads made without milk and eggs, and he can also have their turkey and lettuce. At Subway, he can have an entire meal out…his sandwich, a bag of fritos or corn chips and a bottle of apple juice. This was HUGE for him and for us. Thank you for raising the awareness of the food allergy epidemic. Our families were pulling for you on the Celebrity Apprentice show, and just could not believe that you didn’t win.
Carol says:
Hi Trace!
You do literally speak for so many of us that are not taken seriously! THANK-YOU!!
My 3 year old has allergies to nuts as well as environmental allergies and so many individuals that I have told regarding the nuts and even some family members are not aware of the severity of this problem and just disregard the issue as if it weren’t serious which is EXTREMELY scary to me since I have seen my sons’ reactions.
A mother commented to me that she couldn’t understand why her daughter couldn’t bring PB&J sandwiches when one of her classmates was allergic to peanuts and how unfair it was to the rest of the children. I couldn’t believe my ears! We NEED more education regarding this subject!
I too cry and loose sleep to the thought of my sons’ exposure to nuts especially in school were he will spend most of his time. Sharing of food and cross contamination is one that most people don’t even think about.
Just a few weeks ago my son was given honey nut cheerios in his daycare even though I had notified every single teacher about his allergies, keep written information in FLOURESCENT paper in his bag regarding his allergies, well I have taken many precautions and still they fed him the snack which thank God didn’t affect his respiratory system this time around.
We NEED to be taken seriously for our childrens’ happy future.
Thanks again and I hope this gets the awareness we are all after!
Debra0416 says:
Hats off to you Trace for bringing this problem of FAAN to the attention of America.
So many of us share your heart felt crush like you with your daughter.
Yes, we are one of the many. Not to mention so many disabilities. My daughter also has C.P. cannot walk, run,even play with kids unlike her.
My heart breaks every time I look into those beautiful eyes of hers.The only way I know how to deal with all this is to simply say.
“I HAVE HOPE”
Our children are our precious gifts and not to stand up for their rights would be shameful.
Thank you sooooo much for getting the message out.
As I watched you and your wife,it broke my heart.
God Bless your family, stay strong, and stay cool.
Kelly Norris says:
Mr Adkin’s
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting such a worthy cause.
I have just finished watching Celebrity Apprenticed and I can’t tell you how emotional it was for me seeing you talk about your little girl and the struggles that you have all indured.
I am from Ontario Canada and I too have a beautiful little five year old girl who is severly allergic to all peanuts, nuts, milk,and eggs. Melinda was diagnosed when she was an infant when we rushed her to the hospital after my oldest daugter kissed her on the cheek after eating a peanut butter toast. Our lives drastically changed that day and I remember the awful feeling of helplessness and loneliness that I felt when we first found out about my daughters food allergies.
Its people like like you and organizations like FAAN that give us hope and courage for the future.
God bless you and your family
Ps. you WON hands down!
Robin says:
Hi Trace!
I have enjoyed watching you on the “Apprentice”. Each time I hear you speak of food allergies I think to myself of valuable information I can pass on to you and your family. My daughter and I have had many food allergies and have had them successfully eliminated with a treatment called NAET( Nambudripad’s Allergy Elinimation Techniques). Please go to the NAET website to learn more about it. All of your questions will be answered on the website and your daughter can be truly free of allergies….all you need is an open mind to alternative medicine. I pray God will guide you to NAET as he did me.
Vicki says:
Trace,
I just finished watching the finale of Celebrity Apprentice…what a shame! I just want you to know that you should be proud because no one could have been more honest and genuine in how you played the game. It was truly a plesure to watch because of your sharp wit and your respect for all of your team members. I have a 6 yr old little boy who has had a liver transplant so no matter what the issue, parents understand how important it is to stand up for any cause that affects the life of a child. You are so inspiring and I hope you walked away from this experience with the knowledge that you have educated and inspired many people. At the end of the day that is truly what matters. Thank you for taking on such a unusual and I’m sure at times an uncomfortable role for the benefit of your daughter and those just like her.
You are truly an inspiration.
Nancy says:
I am a 57 year old female who started battling with food allergies when I was in my late teen’s, early 20’s. With each pregnancy I had, the allergies got worse. I took desensitization shots for years, and then got tired of the expense and hassle. Now I just have to watch carefully what I eat. I cannot count how many times I end up in the emergency room with a reaction. I am even allergic to chemicals and products used in dental work. I can no longer tolerate the materials used in root canals, therefore I have to have my teeth extracted when they die. I never know which foods might trigger a reaction. IT used to be a slight few, now I have a list of 30 items that will trigger something. I too have a hard time going out to eat. I sympathize and empathize with everyone battling food allergies. As for FAAN, I didn’t know this organization existed. I have always battled on my own. Can I get involved some how??? Please contact me. Thanks for all your hard work Trace Adkins. I was pulling for you to win. THANKS A MILLION FOR GETTING PEOPLE TO BE MORE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM.
Peggy Reinders says:
Trace,
Like your daughter, I too have severe peanut and tree nut allergies. I am 56 years old and work for our local school district in food service. I went into anaphylactic shock when I was 49 while working in the kitchen at our middle school. I only breathed in the peanut butter the bakers were working with! I never touched it nor did I consume it! My epi-pen gave me only a few minutes before the paramedics arrived to resusitate me. I coded 4 times before they stabilized me at the hospital. I will never forget the terror I felt at not being able to breathe!!
My daughter also has food allergies and I worry about her every day.
Keep fighting with us for more testing and awareness. I will keep fighting at our school district to bring about more awareness with students, teachers, and parents. Fortunately, I have a supervisor who is also on board for food safety in schools and allergy awareness.
I will keep your daughter, Brianna, in my thoughts and prayers for her safe keeping every day!
Rachel says:
Hi,
I just wanted to say thank you for speaking out about EE. I know how it feels to not be able to eat certain foods around your child. My son is only two and at about 9 months old he started the vomiting. It’s horrible! He is allergic to milk, eggs, wheat, soy and possibly fruits since he also has acid reflux I don’t know what else is cauing him to throw up. It’s honestly horrible that the states don’t recognize EE as a serious desease like it is. Insurance compaine don’t want to pay for things. Finding my son a food therapist to teach him how to eat is the worst. Everyone turns him down saying they don’t take the insurance or he is too smart and not slow enough to qualify for help even though they admit he needs someone to help him eat whatever he can eat (chicken). People don’t know how these kids feel. They must be hurting or something and it hurts me that he cant even tell me or he has gotten used to the pain of choking that he doesnt even know any better. If anyone knows a charity that would help my sweet baby please e-mail me rkamen@optonline.net
Bradley Brant says:
i’m a very big fan. you should have won the Celebrity Apprentice.i did not get to see it. would you send me a link to the celebrity from thursday march 27, 2008 do you have an myspace? if you do what is it.
Bobbi says:
Dear Trace,
I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate what you’ve done to raise funds for FAAN to further research and what you’ve done to raise awareness about food allergies in our country. I can only imagine what you, your wife and daughter deal with on a daily basis having the multiple allergies that your little girl does. I’ve got a five-year-old daughter who is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and a few other things that are easier to avoid.
You did a fantastic job on the show and I was disheartened when Piers won, even more so because of his attitude that he showed toward your charity. Thank you so much for participating and for sharing your personal story with the world. You’ve shown that you are a true gentleman and a wonderful husband and father. A great example for all.
Skippy says:
From my family to you, THANK YOU! Both of my children (son & daughter)have food allergies and asthma (Eggs, Nuts, Soy, Sesame Seed). Good News and Hope = my daughter did outgrow her milk allergy and is beginning to outgrow the egg. We have had many trips to the ER, and we are also living a vigilant lifestyle. We rarely eat out and recently had a reaction at a restaurant we thought to be “safe.” The tongs from the banana nut bread were used to serve our dinner rolls. The world has been a very scary for my children, especially my daughter. She is mature beyond her age and with a lot of work is getting empowered to take care of herself. You have been a blessing for the much needed awareness. Thank you for being willing to speak on all our behalf and to do it with such dignity! Because of the FAAN Walk and people like you my children to not feel alone in ths fight. You have been a good example for my family on many levels. We are grateful to you and will keep your family in our prayers. Thank you.
Pam Lamp says:
You don’t see many true gentlemen now of days but Trace Adkins is a True Gentleman. Even though he didn’t win the Celebrity Appentice he was the winner with how he put his heart and soul into doing all he could do to raise money for his Charity. I understand how it feels to have a child have a health condition that you never know when will flair up, my oldest son has Crohns Disease and I’ve come close too many times loosing him and it breaks my heart. The song he sang last night I truly hope the young people now of days will listen to it, really listen to it. I watch my grandsons who are almost 2yrs old and 5 months old and remember my sons when they were that age and how time flew,I want to keep my grandchildren “children” as long as possible and Trace’s song gets to me everytime,I remember I couldn’t wait to turn 18 and have my own life and now I will turn 50 next Saturday and I look back and I see my grandkids running, laughing being little boys and when my son asks “Are they behaving?” my answer is yes they are being little boys, let them be that way for as long as you can. I could tell how much of a devoted father he is, the love for his children covers his whole being there should be more fathers like him. I get emotional when I hear the song he sang last night and I’m getting emotional thinking of the song and our young people now of days. Trace Adkins you are one of the GOOD GUYS. God Bless you and your family and keep doing what you are doing. Your fans love you and respect you now probably now more than ever. Sincerly, Pam Lamp - West Virginia
Mom of 4 says:
I look at my children’s allergies now as a BLESSING! Yes, a BLESSING! I don’t take things for granted as much. Even the fact that they are alive! They are much more precious to me! And I feel the Lord has used this to really make me more pliable for Him to mold and use. I am more sensitive to others and love helping and sharing with others. Without problems…I think we would all be selfish! “They meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” “Giving thanks ALWAYS and for ALL things…Eph. 5:20″ God is good ALL the time!
Thank you Mr. Adkins, for making the world aware! You probably even saved lives!
Chanda4 says:
Trace- you did a great job, don’t ever forget that. I thought you played the game well and you did it with style, like a real gentleman. Piers may have won the game, but you won the Nations hearts.
My 7yr old, Jake(with severe food allergies/EE/asthma…on a feeding tube) sobbed when they annouced Piers as the winner. He sat next to be the last several weeks and cheered and rooted you on, he was so proud to have someone *on his side*. Again, we thank you for all your hard work, all yoru dedication and all your support for food allergy awareness. You will always be #1 in our hearts!
HUGS-Brett, Chanda, Sidney, Jake, Carson, and Savannah
between the 4 kids they battle allergies against-peanut, all tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy, beef, chicken, green beans(avoiding all beans), corn, wheat, tomatoes, strawberries, grapes, shell fish, spinach, rice, bakers yeast, garlic, tuna, barley, peas, coconut, sesame, sunflower, poppy, mustard and pine nuts(those are the ones we *know* about). EE, asthma, eczema and many sesonal/environmental allergies too.
I also wanted to post a link to a support group(a GREAT group of people all in their own food allergy journey)-if any of you, and Trace are intersted- http://allergy.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=home#5
Shelly says:
My aunt developed food allergies and an alternative doctor was able to help her cure her allergies. The cure was nutrition pills and a very specific diet for about 3 years. I don’t know if this works for children that were probably born with them, but if so the doctor that helped my aunt is Dr. Terbeek in Illinois. Hope this helps. God bless!
Kelly says:
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for bringing this issue to the forefront. I have a 7 month old son suffering from severe food intolerance (FPIES) which does not allow him to have Milk, soy, rice, other grains, certain vegatables, and certain meats. We are just starting our journey and learning more about allergies and are grateful to have someone like you supporting such a worthy cause.
Thank you…Kelly…southeastern pa
Susan says:
Trace,
What a beautiful lesson in humility I have learned by watching you on The Celebrity Apprentice. You have showed that “less is definitely more”. It doesn’t matter who Trump chose - everyone knows who was the real winner.
For all the readers I am offering the resource http://www.feingold.org that deals w/ sensitivities that are technically not immune system allergies. Apples and fruits which have salicylic acid (similar to aspirin sensitivities) and artificial food colorings & dyes can all cause behavioral changes leading to ADHD and hyperactivity. We have been a “Feingold family” for a year now and it has been nothing short of a miracle. Thank you Trace for the awareness you have created and I pray for your family and all with serious food allergy problems.
Chelle says:
Thanks so much for championing this cause! Our lives are touched by Celiac Disease (reaction to gluten, which is EVERYWHERE), and we experience the same issues — non-precise labeling, disguising ingredients under different names, and cross-contamination. More people need this information!
LONI MONSON says:
Trace,
I have been a fan of yours since you started in the music business. I am even a bigger fan now. Being on the Apprentice has made me understand why I am a fan and why I appreciate you as an American. I have read your book also and I am so glad I did. How would you like to run for the top job? You got my vote! Your belief in our God, country & military needs to be contagious. We need more people like you.
I would like to thank you for making those of us who knew nothing about food allergies more aware. I had no idea it could be that serious. My heart goes out to all and may God Bless each of you.
Loni Monson
Nampa, Idaho
Renee- Shreveport, LA says:
Hi Trace,
We enjoyed watching the Celebrity Apprentice this season. We were so glad that you have brought more attention to food allergies and FAAN.
My son especially enjoyed your style during the Apprentice competitions, especially the finale. He is twelve and has a severe peanut allergy, discovered when he was one year old.
We thought he would only react if he actually ATE peanut products, but a few years ago, he smelled peanuts from several feet away and his eyes swelled shut! We were informed that each allergic reaction to food gets worse, and the next reaction could be life-threatening.
It is a big problem, since we are afraid to put him on a commercial airline, with recirculated air. Even if the airline doesn’t serve peanuts, someonce could bring them on board.
We wish you continued success and hope continued study in the field of food allergies will bring about a cure. FAAN has been a big help to me in getting information to teachers and others who have contact with my son. There are many great books available for purchase to help educate people
Marti Sherrill says:
Well, Piers Morgan may have won as Donald Trump’s “Apprentice”, but you won the hearts of all those who tuned in to the program. I, for one, do not have a child with food allergies, as did most of those who have posted to this site, but as an “outsider” I commend you for bringing the issue of severe food allergies to the attention of those who watched the “Apprentice”. I wasn’t aware of the severity or the number of children affected by severe food allergies, but now I am because of you. By the way, my husband was a cameraman at a Walmart convention in Nashville where you performed about 4 years ago, and he reported at the time what a nice guy you were and how he enjoyed meeting and working with you. We had hopes that you would win the “Apprentice”, but as you said, you conducted yourself with great dignity and in the “game of life” you, not Piers Morgan, were the real winner!
Shereen says:
Trace and Rhonda!
When Rhonda brought your two younger daughters to see you and it just melted your heart, well, it melted mine too and so many others across the nation. What a beautiful family, and the love was very evident!! To me, nothing is more important than family!!
You WON the Celebrity Apprentice with your integrity in tact at all times, your charm, graciousness, the respect you showed everyone involved with the show, and much more, by just being YOURSELF!! A true gentleman in every aspect!! I had never been a fan of Donald Trump and The Apprentice before, but when I knew you were going to be on there, I didn’t miss a show. Now that the show is over and YOU have WON in my heart and in my mind, I will not watch that show again!! Mr. Trump, hands down, picked the wrong person!!!! As far as I’m concerned, Piers can take a flying leap off of a pier!!
You’re the best spokesperson for FAAN, and they knew that when they asked you to be there for them!!
I admire both you and Rhonda for being such loving, caring, and dedicated parents. My love and prayers go out to your family and wish you all nothing but the very best always!! Brianna may not be quite aware yet, but she is so very fortunate to have parents who love her and all her sisters with every ounce of their beings!!
Take care and stay strong! I am sending a check and I hope in some small way it will help!! Hugs to Brianna, Trinity, Mackenzie, Sarah, and Tarah!!
risa says:
My daughter is nineteen anaphylactic to peanut, soy flour and soy protein with a sensitivity to peas that equals the peanut reaction. All three allergens are diagnosed anaphylactic. Her soy allergy is even stronger than the peanut. In college she has had three reactions in the dining hall first semester. As a child growing up she never met another peer with life threatening allergies. I breaks my heart to see so many of our babies going through what my daughter has endured. Thank you for being such a “grown up” in all your affairs. You are truly an example for our children as to how to live life responsibly and with humility. God bless you!
Patti says:
You were the WINNER as far as I am concerned…Piers bullied is win..My grand daughter was just diagnosed with tree nut and peanut allergies…she went into Anaphalaxis after eating a peanut butter cookie..she barely had a bite and broke out in hives, vomiting and stomach pain..we now have Epi pens and Benydryll with us at all times…sh e has also had the 911 calls and trips to the ER…You representation and appearance on the show has made so many people aware of Food Allergies..
Thanks for being a real genuine gentleman..I will continue to look for your involvement and would like to help in any way I can….Patti
Linda M. says:
Warmest wishes for you and your family. My daughter was diagnosed with a life threatening milk allergy at a very young age. Benedryl and Epi-pen were on hand 24/7. Due to the same difficulties you have encountered, we would prepare our daughter’s favorite foods at home including making chicken fingers with soy and homemade chocolate cake with no egg or milk and packed in her favorite lunch pack. That way she could go to family gatherings and birthday parties and not feel left out. A simple splash of milk from someone else’s sippy cup on my daughter’s arm (which swelled up significantly) finally opened relatives and friends eyes that we were not kidding about the severity of the allergies. She is now 14 and has since out grown most of her allergies, however, still follows a very strict diet and reads labels just in case she has a reaction. Our warmest wishes and prayers for you and your family.
allergymoms.com : : Blog » Food Allergy Dad Trace Adkins–The Real Winner! says:
[...] from others:Trace Adkins Heartbroken by Daughter’s Food AllergiesTrace should have wonFrom our friend Rational [...]
Brandi says:
Trace,
Words can not express our gratitude to you for bringing awareness to food allergies. Like you, I have a 6 year old daughter that suffers from a life threatening peanut allergy. Your daughter reminds me so much of our daughter Ally. As you know, it is gut-wrenching to send our daughter to school every day. I tell people that for us it is like having a loaded gun in her classroom when there is a kid eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in class. She can not go on playdates unless I know that the other parent will read labels and take her allergy seriously. We attemted to go to a baseball game and she had a reaction to the peanut dust in the air. She misses out on many events and activities due to her allergy. People do not understand the severity of her allergy. Thank you for bringing awareness to food allergies.
You are an remarkable person and an amazing father. Your daughters are so lucky to have such a wonderful father.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Deb says:
Trace, YOU’re the MAN! What can I say. At the end of the day when we cut our losses some of us are more accountable than others,(if you know what I mean). Never compromise who you are or what you stand for and you’ll always come out a WINNER! Awesome job that you did and thank you for taking a stand. VALUES, MORALES, and CHARACTER are PRICELESS! Donald & Piers will need all that money to go when they leave this earth; so they can BURN IT. They say it’s pretty damn cold where they may spend eternity.
TRACE YOU ARE THE BOMB BABY!!!
Tabatha says:
Thank you. Trace for opening my eyes more, on the very horrible problem of food allerigies.. I’m from Canada so our health care is different here. But I use to complaine when the notes from the schools that they were going Peanut Free and at that time all my son would eat was peanut butter. Now my husband has suffered with different allergies as a kid and through his youth right up to adult but he never tested positive for any foods alleriges. One day last week I cooked us some lunch we sat down to eat had no trouble but within about 10 mins he started to break out in hives like he has for many years nothing to serious we thought take Benadryl wait a few mins and then they start to go away like they alway do or did… We were alway told only use the epi-pen if it starts to affect your breathing… But he said he felt different his hives got biger and they were popping out in secs the benadryl wasn’t working.. I got him read to take him to the ER now in nova scotia canada our wait time is 4 to 6 hours to see a doc. as we sat there waiting for the nurse he started fading in and out. So I jumped up i had to push this other sick person out of the way so the nurce could see that this was getting realy bad and fast.. By the time she took his blood pressure it wouldn’t register it was so low.. He went into complete anaphylactic shock and his body was shutting down and he was diying right before my eyes and I was helpless all I could think about was I could have just killed my husband by feeding him lunch he in the past never reacted to any of the food I cooked him ever before. I can now say I feel the same way as you and many other familys that have to live with these allerges eveyday Im scared to cook he is now scared to eat because we still don’t know what cased the attack. Thank god for Epinephrine and the doctors that after 3 doses of it he came back to me… The doctor here said he’s only ever seen one other case that bad of anaphylactic shock once and that was a small child…. Take good care of your daughter I know you will and thanks again you taught my some good things about food alligeries……. :)And you should have won Trump was wrong
Lesley In Indiana says:
Dear Mr. Adkins,
I forgot to say.. but goes without saying that you are awesome and so is your music. Your number one hit single is so true.. I write lyrics and always have since a kid but never have had any put with music..
Your song you played on the Donald Trump show thing made me cry.. It is so true..
I wrote a song about how I use to put my kids in the back seat with a blanket to keep them warm and how the devil tried to say I had nothing when I had it all..
God bless you and yours.
Kind Regards,
Lesley
Michelle says:
I have to say thank you. I have a 6 year old born with milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts and fish allergies. He has grown out of some, but eggs and peanuts are still severe. I have become a pro at understanding what I can feed him. My constant fear is other people. Parents that do not have children with allergies simply don’t understand. They will hand my son a cookie at school or bring in treats with peanut butter even though the school has requested no peanut products. I can’t blame them, but it makes kindergarten very scary for me and dangerous for my son. Honestly, I hope that this show helps to educate others on severe allergies. I didn’t know Trace Adkins prior to this show (sorry). But we share the same situation with our children and he has much more power than I do to bring attention to severe food allergies. Thanks again.
Richard Rodriguez says:
My name is Richard Rodriguez. I am writing in the hopes this message will get to Mr. Adkins. My business partner and I were moved by his story and the charity his was representing Celebrity Apprentice.
We have a developed a Non-Invasive treatment that eliminates allergies. We would very much like the opportunity to meet with him to discuss further.
Sincerely,
Richard Rodriguez
703-932-7205
Holly says:
Trace i just wanted to first of all say that i really new about this in america how demanding it was until i watched you on the Trump show the other night and i still feel you should of won i didnt like that other guy. Anyways thank you for all you are doing for this Funding that isnt known to to many out there in the world. I have lots of allergies as well. but nothing like you wonderful and beautiful Daughter and they are both sweet beautiful girls and your wife is one Beautiful lady as well. I was wondering how i am able to get a home mailing to help out? I would love to help out for something like this then some others that they have around the world that the money never gets to them. I have another one i fund as well (It is for saving the Dolphins and Wha