This last weekend, Brian Hom moved mountains during the Bay Area FARE Food Allergy Walk in honor of BJ Hom, his son who died from a food allergic reaction. The event raised over $120,000 and Brian and his crew worked endlessly to create a successful event that drew out celebrities and food allergy community favorites like our beloved Kyle Dine. I had tried to make it down there for the event but could not and I am still moping around over it. Brian leaves me speechless since he never stops his work to save the lives of others even though he still lives a painful loss every single day. He works to save my child and yours. As soon as I think he has a done a good job and will pass the baton, he ups his game and advocacy work.
I read about his son’s JB’s death while in Brian’s neck of the woods: San Jose, California, while on vacation with my son. I snuck down early to the hotel lobby to fiddle with my emails and read the story of BJ’s death. I sat in that lobby weeping for the untimely loss of BJ during a family trip to Mexico to celebrate his high school graduation. It was the first food allergy death that I had encountered and all I could do was to pray for the Hom family. As time passed, Brian and his family became known advocates for awareness. He spoke out about food allergies, recorded a FARE video, participated in walks and is now advocating for stock epinephrine law in California. If I lost my child, I don’t know how I could face each day. I can’t imagine the shoes that he walks in and I can’t help but be inspired to see a father advocating. More often than not, the “health CEO” of a family is the mother and she is also the family advocate and voice. I’m proud to see a dad involved and making changes.
Hom Family
I’ve spoken to Brian a few times to discuss his current legislative work and am in awe how he does his food allergy advocacy work in the early morning or evenings, after his own job. If he tires, he never shows it. I’m sorry I missed such an inspirational event. After Natalie Giorgi’s death, Brian mentioned he was going to reach out to Natalie’s dad, as another father who watched their child die of an allergic reaction. My heart sank when he shared that and I wanted to cry, but I wanted to applaud Brian for putting his own pain aside to support another at the same time. I was speechless.
Food Allergy cookbook author, Kelly Rudnicki attended the event and wrote a very moving and inspiring blog post, “Tears in Heaven”, sharing her experience and committing to not stopping the good fight–have your tissue box ready when you read her post. Cooking guru aside, Kelly is an incredible advocate and voice for the food allergy community. Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton was sung at the event too!
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!..
Such inspiring stories. I’m speechless, too!
I was there and his speech as well as mrs Gorgi’s speech was touching and their actions are so inspiring.
Janet,
I just can’t even begin to image stepping up on stage to speak out as the Giorgi’s have along with Brian Hom. I did see that Brian had posted two videos of the song by Bob Marley (one of my personal favorites) and the Tears in Heaven song. Just awe inspiring.
I was there too, it is so kind of the parents and siblings who have suffered so much to to share in such a public way. I was amazed how they were able to give to us the gift of awareness and education right along side a day of fun. They are true heroes.
Elaine,
Was it an emotional day? I just can’t image the power and emotion that was loaded into one spot. The videos of the two songs had me in tears! The support looked amazing. How did you feel after the walk?