Boy with 20 allergies travels to US for life-changing treatment

A British family is forced to travel thousands of miles to America every few months so their 10-year-old son can receive life-changing treatment for his 20 complex allergies.

Yann Jennings suffers from severe reactions to seafood, cats, coconut, and a host of other everyday substances. But after undergoing specialist immunotherapy in the United States, he’s now able to eat small amounts of nuts daily – something that would have been unthinkable just two years ago.

His parents have spent over £45,000 on flights, accommodation and treatment since 2022. Yet they say it’s worth every penny.

When everyday life becomes a minefield

Yann was diagnosed with multiple food allergies at age two. By the time he turned eight, the list had grown to include tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, fish, sesame, coconut, cats, dogs, and various environmental triggers. Simple activities like visiting friends’ homes or eating out became fraught with danger.

“We couldn’t go anywhere without checking everything first,” his mother Rachel said. “Birthday parties were a nightmare. He couldn’t eat the cake, couldn’t play with other kids if they’d had certain foods. It was isolating for him.”

The family carries four EpiPens at all times. Yann has been hospitalized seven times for anaphylactic reactions.

Treatment unavailable at home

After researching options worldwide, the Jennings family found a specialist clinic in Boston offering oral immunotherapy for multiple allergens simultaneously. The treatment isn’t widely available in the UK, where most NHS services focus on single-allergen desensitization.

The therapy involves giving Yann tiny, gradually increasing doses of allergens under medical supervision. He now travels to Boston every three to four months for assessments and dose adjustments.

Between visits, he takes measured amounts of nut powder mixed into his breakfast every morning. So far, he’s built up tolerance to almonds, cashews and hazelnuts.

Progress and hope for the future

“This type of multi-allergen immunotherapy shows real promise for children with complex cases,” said Dr. Sarah Mitchell, an allergy specialist at a London teaching hospital. “However, it requires intensive monitoring and expertise that’s currently limited in the UK.”

The treatment hasn’t cured Yann completely. He still can’t touch cats or eat seafood. But the progress has transformed the family’s quality of life.

Next year, doctors plan to introduce sesame into his therapy protocol. And the family hopes that eventually, more British children like Yann won’t need to fly across the Atlantic for treatment that could save their lives.