Roedean learner aims to create allergy awareness through book

Roedean learner Aara-Rai Gounder aims to create allergy awareness through her recently published book, No Nuts Nani.

Gounder’s mother and co-author Bhavna explained that she noticed Aara-Rai became sickly five months after she was born.

“By the time Aara was six months old, she had three recurring ear infections that were resistant to antibiotics. Her paediatrician advised we do blood tests, which we did, and we found out she was allergic to nuts, eggs, wheat, soy and dairy.”

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The co-author added that although Aara-Rai was still young to understand her allergies, she found ways to explain them to her.

“We drew pictures of the things she couldn’t eat and coloured them as an activity. It became part of any conversation where food was involved. As she got older, we tried to show her videos of other children with similar allergies to try visually explain the severity of anaphylactic shock and the precautions she would need to take.”

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The seven-year-old’s mother said Aara-Rai wrote No Nuts Nani to help other children who suffered from allergies.

“Aara is extremely proud of her journey and her book. She is delighted to explain her medical condition to others and always tells her audiences during book signings and readings that we are all special even though we are different.”

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She added that although there were challenges writing the book, she was proud of her daughter.

“The initial challenge was ensuring we were true to Aara’s original story. She drew all her characters and had a very vivid idea of what the squirrel’s journey to the party would look and sound like.”

The book retails for R120 and can be purchased on: wordsbyaara.com

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