Hope in Under 140 Characters

Many people assume Twitter attracts users around common health care issues for content sharing and information. After Tweeting about #FoodAllergies for several years, I've learned that Twitter is a place where I can go to feel better. Why? The conversation below illustrates.

Note: The real-time prelude to these Tweets took place a few minutes prior. My daughter had just opened a to-go container of profiterole pastry topped with ice-cream topped with whipped cream that I had allowed her to bring home.  Because of Eden's food allergies we had, as usual, opted to have dessert at home after eating out in our one trusted restaurant. But I was taken by surprise at the extravagance of her dessert and more than a little devastated at Eden's envious gaze. "Bad call," I thought to myself as I prepared his dairy free ice cream topped with powdered sugar (Eden's favorite substitute for whipped cream.) It looked lame.

But his sister instinctively proclaimed, "Eden! Your food looks awesome!!" Eden believed her of course.

I Tweeted:

ME: incredibly beautiful when your un-allergic child tells food allergic sibling that his food looks AMAZING when it truly does not #parenting

AtopicGirl T@susanweissman That's so sweet. Now, my sisters are always genuinely jealous of my allergy-free meals when we eat out together. #parenting

ME: so happy to read it! I hope someday my son's food will look that good. @AtopicGirl

AtopicGirl @susanweissman I know it will. Having multiple food allergies has made me a pretty good cook & I appreciate good food more than most.

I do not "know" AtopicGirl outside of Twitter. But now I know a little something more, something hopeful about my son's health condition. I know that someone like Eden embraces - is proud of -  her food despite her allergies. And that kind of sharing has been happening to me for years. It's a timeless kind of solace experienced while scrolling through time.