Crossgar mother grateful to team for support

Crossgar mother grateful to team for support

8 October 2025

A CROSSGAR mum whose daughter has severe allergies to peanuts, milk and eggs, has shared how managing her condition has become part of daily life.

Catherine McKinley has gone public with her story during what is Anaphylaxis Awareness Week  to highlight the importance of understanding and managing allergies to prevent life-threatening reactions.

Four year-old Cait was diagnosed with her severe allergies when she was just five and a half months old, with her mum explaining it was a “frightening time”.

She said before her daughter was diagnosed, she was very “ignorant” about Anaphylaxis.

“As a mum, you are always afraid and always trying to make sure your child is safe,” said Catherine.

“The risk is never far from your mind, especially when she is not with me. I would never be more than 30 minutes from home, because I need to get to her if she has an allergic reaction.”

Catherine and Cait attend the Paediatric Allergy Clinic at the Ulster Hospital where they receive expert support and guidance on managing allergies. 

Allergic conditions are now the most common chronic condition for children in the UK with up to 50% of children in Northern Ireland may be affected by an allergy, with access to high-quality care, accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plans is vital for supporting children and families.

Catherine shared how managing Cait’s allergies has become part of everyday life. 

“You learn to deal with it,” she said.

“Everywhere we go, we carry her JEXT pen to keep her safe. As a family, it affects all of us and my other three children are very aware of allergies.

“In the early days, they even developed a bit of anxiety because they wanted to keep her safe. They are trained to use her JEXT pen and give her antihistamines if needed. We even do practice runs at home so they know what to do, it is about empowering them to act in an emergency.”

Catherine said everything they eat has to be checked and everyone Cait is in contact with must be aware.

“It is something that is always there,” she said.

Despite the challenges, the Crossgar family continue to enjoy life as much as possible.

“We still eat out, go to birthday parties and do the things we always would. It is not always easy, but we try to live as normally as possible.”

Catherine has also stressed the importance of awareness and education.

“Knowledge is key. There are more people living with allergies than ever before. Taking the time to understand their experiences can literally save someone’s life,” she continued, praising the support she and Cait have received from the Ulster Hospital’s allergy clinic. 

Catherine added: “The staff have been invaluable, supportive, knowledgeable and always willing to answer my questions. 

“For me, as Cait’s Mum, I try to be her role model. I want her to know her allergies will not stop her from doing anything and I am her voice, teaching her and others about staying safe while still living her life fully.”

Dr Katy McConnell, a consultant paediatrician at the Ulster Hospital’s Children’s Unit — who also lives with a severe allergy — said it was important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of Anaphylaxis, with the initial sensation of throat closure or wheezing or becoming pale. 

“It is also vital that family members and friends know what to do should Anaphylaxis happen,” she said.

“On the last occasion I had anaphylaxis, my husband was able to administer my EPI pen to me. If you are the person having anaphylaxis, it might be difficult to undertake that, so speak out if you are feeling unwell”.

Dr McConnell said the signs and symptoms to look out for are throat closure, swelling, breathing difficulties, wheezing, compromised circulation, a in blood pressure, becoming pale or collapse. 

“You do not need to have all of the signs. If you have one of these, do not hesitate to give the adrenaline device as it saves lives,” she explained.

“Having an allergy does not mean that children have to stay at home and not go out, it is important that they have a good quality of life and can do things. So that is why we try in the allergy service to ensure that the children are leading a good quality of life. 

“They will have their antihistamine with them when they go out and they will also have their adrenalin pen. This provides a safety net for them should they come into contact with something that they are allergic to, the pen can be used instantly.”

South Eastern Trust consultant paediatrician, Dr Caoimhe Glancy, explained the work of the Ulster Hospital’s paediatric allergy clinic.

“We are a multidisciplinary team, including consultants, specialist doctors, nurses and dieticians. We treat all allergic conditions, including food allergies, eczema and environmental allergies and provide bespoke treatment plans for our patients,” she explained.

Dr Glancy said anaphylaxis is a life-threatening medical emergency and although people might have heard of it, understanding it is key. 

“We want to raise awareness and for everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms. We also want to encourage children to have some awareness of the signs and symptoms of Anaphylaxis, then they know the treatment plan for how to manage that condition to try to save lives.”