Brittany Mahomes: From NFL Wife to Food Allergy Advocate - A Mother's Journey

Brittany Mahomes is widely recognized as the stylish wife of Patrick Mahomes, the celebrated quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Brittany is much more than just a supportive spouse. She is a co-owner of a women’s soccer team, a former professional soccer player, a fitness enthusiast, and a successful entrepreneur. More recently, she has embraced a deeply personal and impactful role: becoming a passionate advocate for food allergy awareness. This journey was sparked by her own children, Sterling and Patrick “Bronze” Mahomes III, both of whom live with food allergies. It was Bronze’s frightening allergic reaction in 2023 that ignited Brittany’s drive to raise awareness about this common but often misunderstood condition.

In this insightful Q&A, Gwen Smith, editor of Allergic Living, delves into Brittany Mahomes’ experiences with food allergies. They discuss the details of Bronze’s alarming reaction, how Brittany manages game days, travel, and birthday celebrations while navigating food allergies, and her empowering message for other food allergy mothers. Plus, discover Brittany’s thoughts on whether her children might follow in their father’s athletic footsteps.

Brittany Mahomes’ commitment to this cause is evident in her partnership with kaléo’s AUVI-Q, the only epinephrine auto-injector designed for infants and toddlers. She played a crucial role in developing Foodallergygameplan.com, a website dedicated to educating parents about the signs of severe allergic reactions in young children.

A Mother’s Food Allergy Awakening: Q&A with Brittany Mahomes

Gwen Smith: Brittany, can you walk us through the experience of introducing peanut to your son Bronze at eight months old? It sounds like it was a truly frightening day in August 2023.

Brittany Mahomes: Absolutely. Knowing that our daughter Sterling had food allergies, we were already more vigilant with Bronze, our second child. We were doing early introduction, using those powder supplements you mix into the bottle daily. We started with milk, then moved to eggs.

Then came peanuts. It was his first time trying peanuts, and he drank his bottle as usual. About 20 to 30 minutes, maybe even an hour later, he started becoming incredibly fussy and irritable.

It was nearing bedtime, so initially, I thought, ‘Maybe he’s just tired.’ I decided to start his bath a bit early. As I was in the bathroom, taking off his diaper, I was shocked to see he was completely covered in hives and welts. Hoping to soothe him, I put him in the bath, but he just began screaming, inconsolable. The hives were getting worse, rapidly spreading to his stomach and arms, and within minutes, they reached his face.

Panic started to set in, but my daughter was right there, watching everything. As a mom, I knew I had to stay calm and collected for her sake.

Brittany Mahomes with kids Patrick (Bronze) and Sterling Mahomes. Photo: courtesy kaléo

The Emergency Room Visit: A Turning Point

We had an AUVI-Q epinephrine auto-injector at home, prescribed for Sterling. I grabbed it, just in case. I first gave him some antihistamine to see if that would help calm the reaction. It did lessen the severity slightly, but he still wasn’t stable.

That’s when we rushed to the emergency room. As soon as we arrived, they connected him to monitors. Thankfully, his breathing and heart rate were okay. It was a relief, and I could finally breathe a little easier.

But it was still terrifying. Knowing both my children have food allergies is constantly on my mind. At any moment, a reaction could happen if we aren’t vigilant.

Now, both Patrick and I carry two AUVI-Qs for Sterling and two for Bronze everywhere we go. We are always prepared and hyper-aware.

Gwen: Just to clarify, you already had epinephrine at home due to Sterling’s allergies?

Brittany: Yes, Sterling has allergies, and we had an AUVI-Q prescribed for her. So it was already in our home. We ended up not needing to use epinephrine for Bronze that time; he responded to the antihistamine enough to stabilize before we reached the ER.

Gwen: It sounds like you are now fully prepared to use the auto-injector if needed.

Brittany: Absolutely, 100 percent. We are trained and ready.

Understanding Allergic Reactions: Brittany Mahomes’ Insights

Gwen: I saw on your Instagram that Sterling recently turned three. When did her food allergies develop?

Brittany: Hers started around the same age, about 9 or 10 months old, but it was milk. Her reaction was completely different from Bronze’s, which is so important to understand – every child, every adult, every reaction can be different. They don’t always present the same way. Knowing the signs of a severe reaction is crucial.

Gwen: You mentioned Bronze’s fussiness. Allergists often say that can be a sign of a reaction in infants, but it’s easily missed since they can’t verbally communicate.

Brittany: Exactly, they are just uncomfortable and in pain, unable to tell you what’s wrong. Sterling’s reaction was different again. She wasn’t screaming or fussy; she started vomiting and had a sneezing fit. Then her eyes became incredibly itchy, and we went to the doctor. They gave her Zyrtec and Benadryl, and she recovered quickly.

With Bronze, the fussiness was extreme screaming, and then the hives and welts appeared within minutes, covering his entire body, even his face. Reactions can vary dramatically.

“My Responsibility as a Mother is to Advocate”: Brittany Mahomes Speaks Out

Gwen: People see the Mahomes family and think, ‘What incredible years you’ve had,’ with Patrick leading his team to three Super Bowls in just five years. It’s an amazing achievement. But as you’ve experienced, when an allergic reaction happens, none of that matters; it’s a deeply frightening and unforgettable moment.

Brittany Mahomes: Yes, definitely. It’s scary having two children with allergies. As parents, it’s constantly a worry. But I believe it’s our duty to advocate for our children. Speaking up has never been an issue for me. It’s your child’s life, and your responsibility to protect them and keep them safe.

Everywhere we go, everyone is informed about our children’s allergies. Everyone in our household is trained on how to use the AUVI-Q.

In our busy, always-on-the-go life, we are constantly traveling and meeting new people. So, it’s my job as a mother to speak up and never feel ashamed about it.

This is a crucial message I want to share with other parents managing food allergies. Firstly, it’s increasingly common. So, advocate for your kids confidently, wherever you go. Never feel bad or guilty for prioritizing their safety.

Discovering Epi for Infants: A Friend’s Lifeline

Gwen: Your partnership with AUVI-Q is wonderful. How did that relationship develop, especially since you were already familiar with this specific epinephrine device for young children?

Brittany: A family friend actually told me about it when we were navigating Sterling’s allergies. She sent me a link, saying, ‘You need this’ – because our life is a bit chaotic, and we are often with people we don’t know well. Having a device that gives step-by-step voice instructions and reminds you to call 911 afterward is invaluable for our lifestyle.

My friend heard about it, and I immediately knew it was essential. We got it prescribed by our pediatrician and have always carried it for Sterling. When I shared about Bronze’s reaction on Instagram, AUVI-Q reached out, wanting to collaborate. It was a completely natural fit since it’s what we already used for Sterling. It felt like it was meant to be.

Gwen: Now that both Bronze and Sterling have food allergies, what adjustments have you and Patrick made to ensure their safety?

Brittany: Being extra cautious and aware in situations like football games and events. We have to inform everyone, ‘We can’t have this in the suite,’ ‘We can’t have this at the birthday party,’ ‘My kids can’t eat this or be around it.’

Rethinking Family Snacks: Brittany Mahomes’ Allergy-Friendly Home

We’ve also had to educate our families. Neither of our families had dealt with allergies before. So, making our parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins aware. Family gatherings might require some people to prepare alternative dishes. But it’s just part of life now.

Finding safe snacks has been a big adjustment. I used to love peanut butter! Now, we are adjusting not just for the kids but for ourselves too. I don’t want to eat peanut butter and then not be able to kiss my kids.

It’s about making our entire household allergy-safe for our children, which means changing some of our own habits too. We can’t risk anything happening.

Gwen: You travel a lot, and game days are long. What are your tips for managing allergy-friendly snacks on game days?

Brittany: We are all about game plans in our house, [laughs]. My husband has game plans, and now our kids do too!

It’s about being prepared and planning ahead, always thinking ahead. I think I’ve always done that for my family, so with my kids, it’s natural to plan ahead.

I focus more on my kids’ meals than my own now. I always want to ensure they are fed, healthy, and not hungry.

My biggest tip is plan ahead and over-pack. Kids’ appetites are unpredictable. They might eat ten snacks one day and be less hungry the next. So, always be prepared and have everything we might need.

Bronze’s Surprising Athletic Inclination

Gwen: The food allergy community is so grateful to see someone with your platform advocating for them. Why did you decide to use your voice in this way?

Brittany: AUVI-Q played a huge role, and I appreciate their partnership in using my voice. I don’t think all parents realize how common food allergies are today.

After sharing about Bronze’s reaction, I heard from so many other moms and families facing the same challenges. It was incredibly reassuring. I appreciate AUVI-Q’s confidence in me to share this story. The feedback has been amazing.

I want other families to feel that support too, especially those who might hesitate to speak up. I want them to know they can. Feel confident advocating for your children and never apologize for it.

Gwen: Tell me about your adorable children. What are their personalities like? Do you think either will be an athlete?

Brittany: They both seem interested in sports, but Bronze is on another level. He spots a ball from across the room and sprints to play with it.

Patrick and I are amazed by his sports interest – football, golf, basketball, soccer. He saw a soccer ball and started dribbling it at just one year old [in November 2023]. I think we definitely have an athlete in him.

Sterling enjoys sports for a bit, but she’s more of a playground girl, into various activities. She’s active, independent, and loves to be busy.

But Bronze, give him a ball, and he’ll entertain himself for hours.

Words of Encouragement for Food Allergy Mothers

Gwen: What are your final words for food allergy moms reading this?

Brittany: I want them to know they are not alone. And never feel bad for speaking up and advocating for their children.

Also, having kids with food allergies isn’t that bad. You have to find the positives and focus on what they can do, not what they can’t.

There are so many families, so many moms going through this. Don’t feel isolated. Focus on the positive aspects instead of the negative.

Related Reading: Living the College Football Dream: With Food Allergy, Celiac, EoE
Megan’s Minute Video: Self-Carrying Epinephrine at School

Brittany Mahomes: From NFL Wife to Food Allergy Advocate – A Mother’s Journey