In 1979, when Amy Ziff was nine years old, she developed severe migraines accompanied by uncontrollable shaking. Diagnosed with a chronic, progressive neurological condition, doctors said she would inevitably end up on painkillers and die prematurely—a diagnosis her mother rejected. After going from doctor to doctor, her mother finally found an allergist who, Ms. Ziff claims, saved her life.
She kept a food diary, and a battery of allergy testing revealed she was highly allergic to many things in her home and the environment—like dust, dust mites, dander, mold, trees, grass, her cats, her dog, and her clothing. After eliminating her exposure to many of those allergens and changing her diet, her symptoms disappeared—and she became a “normal fourth-grader.” Although she is still highly sensitive, she now knows how to manage her sensitivities.
