Today is my first official post in my web series concerning this incredible process of “Advocating for Stock Epinephrine in Nevada schools”. I am hoping to share some of our experiences that might be help others by providing tips or sharing things not to do! As a food allergy community, we are going through this together as each state joins the right fight to protect students. Joining my series is Tiffany, the artistic genius behind Food Allergy Fun. As a parent and advocate for children with food allergies, she records our food allergy journey with pen and ink as she tries to remind us to stay positive and find solutions. I am honored to feature one of her images with each posting. Now that we are in the game with SB453, an epinephrine for school bill I thought I should talk about briefly about the two champions who put us in the game!
artwork courtesy of Food Allergy Fun
Every single particle of positive change begins with a thought, a discussion, a voice and then champions to take that voice and create pathways. Our SB453 Epinephrine in School bill became real after I was able to meet with then Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, who is now Senator Debbie Smith, back in the spring of 2012. She quickly understood the need of students with life threatening food allergies and the realization that 25% of all first time allergic reactions occur at school. Her own grandchild has nut allergies and she was learning how to create a safe environment for her precious one. She actually deepened my belief that a school needs to be a safe environment, period. She rolled up her sleeves and our thus our journey began and a Life Threatening Allergy and Anaphylaxis champion was born!
Our first champion Senator Debbie Smith during a work session
The next champion was born after lobbyist Michael Hackett, of Alrus Consutling, was busy providing tips for how we can organize the parents from Northern and Southern Nevada to support an epineprhine bill. Believing this is the right thing to do to keep children safe at school, Michael offered up his lobbying services…for free! He said these are “fun things” to work on? Really? Fun? Hum, I’m not feeling the fun part as much as the fulfilling part, but I’ll go with fun for now. He wanted to guide and unify the food allergy families of Nevada and help lead the charge to secure stock epinephrine in Nevada schools.
Our second Champion Michael Hackett at the Nevada State Legislative building
I’m very grateful for our two champions, who each has guided us to the creation of SB453: our first Senate hearing to be held this Thursday, April 4st, at 3:30pm!
We can’t predict how the story of SB453 Stock Epineprhine for Nevada Schools will end, but we are in the game and fighting the right fight together thanks to these two champs!
p.s. If you live in either Northern Nevada or Las Vegas, please help us pack the senate hearing room with supporters on April 4th at 3:30pm. The hearing will take place in Room 2149 in the Legislative Building
401 S. Carson Street, Carson City, NV 89701-4747 and via video in room 4412 of the Grant Sawyer Office Building 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89101-1072. Wear light blue and don’t forget to sign in SUPPORTING SB453!
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One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
[…] installment of Advocating for Epinephrine in Nevada builds upon last’s week posting about finding your champion for SB453 Epinephrine in Nevada […]