Each food allergy death hurts. It just really hurts. I’ve always felt that every child with life threatening food allergies and anaphylaxis (even this college freshman) is our son or daughter. We just lost a son. In the interview below, Cameron Fitzpatrick’s mom explains that her son died on spring break from eating a cookie containing peanut oil. Even more heart breaking and painfully inspiring is that Cameron’s bucket list included saving a life?! His story will actually save many lives. As odd as this sounds, I think Cameron has just challenged us all to work harder at our advocacy and education of others to save lives.
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It is just heart breaking to see a young vibrant life leave this planet so soon, but also inspiring to see his family’s commitment to insuring this doesn’t happen again. They never realized that their son could die from an allergic reaction. I think this might be the biggest lesson for all of us to hear: Cameron’s parents never realized that he could die from food allergies.
Updated: 3/15/13 Good Morning America reports in Good Morning America ,, Cameron’s “College Freshman with Peanut Allergy Dies After Eating a Cookie” was in his suitcase, not within arms reach.
photo courtesy of NBC10
For me, this is one lesson I try to teach everyone within my children’s sphere of school and activities: there are no guarantees or predictors if a food allergic or anaphylactic reaction will be life threatening or not. Each allergen and allergic reaction must be taken seriously. This was second time yesterday I read about parents not realizing that food allergic reactions could be deadly. I truly believe all of us can save lives by educating people our community regarding the serious nature of life threatening food allergies and how to support those managing this hidden disease. I cry for Cameron’s mother who now to pack up her spirited son’s belongings. So wrong.
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!..
I agree- I just spoke to someone over the weekend who is a Certified Nurse and she does not carry an Epipen for her Grandchild’s peanut allergy because “it just bothers her throat”. I was horrified! I calmly explained that she NEEDS to have it just in case…I sincerely hope she takes my advice because that is something that is simply preventable.
I also feel the same- it feels as if these stories hit home. I have to admit that sometimes, I cannot even read teh entire stories as a mother. It is my worst nightmare and I would not wish it upon anyone, ever.
Nutrimom, I swear I am the last person to read these stories. I just let them sit on my computer a bit before I read them.
I really keep hearing the message that I am beginning to think we need to share loud and clear: a food allergy or any serious allergy can be life threatening.
Good for you! We should all speak up rather than stay quiet in an effort to not to upset someone. You probably just saved a life!
So true Candice!
I think of it as scaring people AWAY from death, rather than scaring them “to” death, when we tell them about the real possibilities regarding food allergies.
Selena, I was thinking about this from a physician view point, how did your doctor tell you your child’s disease was life threatening?
My son’s first (one appointment only visit) allergist did not tell us it was life threatening. The nurse who conducted the scratch test, told me two days later at swim lessons!!1
Well, after asking and asking for testing, I got it done at 18 months. The pediatrician gave us the results and said she tested positive to peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, walnuts and soy. (Those were her original test results.) He just said to remove the foods from her diet and try to add the “lower level” allergens back into her diet as she got older, to see if she outgrew them. (The soy turned out to be a false positive and we found out about more actual allergies down the road.) Then, an hour or so, later, he called me back and said that her peanut IgE level warranted an EpiPen prescription, as she was at risk for anaphyalxis. I had just finished writing to my friends on Facebook that I didn’t think my daughter was at risk for anaphyaxis, since all of her previous reactions had been “mild”. (I mean reactions to milk, though, because she has never eaten a peanut in her life.)
The thing is, the pediatrician prescribed the EpiPen for her peanut IgE values, but it was her accidental milk exposure that caused her first anaphylactic reaction, and the second was to flax seed. The pediatrician never gave me any indication that I needed to fear for my daughter’s life over her milk allergy, though I certainly figured that out for myself, later on. In her medical records, as early as 4 months, it reads “possible milk allergy”, but when they discussed the term “milk allergy”, they most definitely meant intolerance. If they truly believed it was a milk ALLERGY then why did they dissuade me from testing her for another 14 months? Why didn’t they prescribe an EpiPen back then? Why suggest I give her cow’s milk at 12 months? Well, because they don’t know the difference between a milk intolerance and a milk protein allergy!
The pediatrician never really explained the level of severity or the life-altering meaning of the diagnosis. I was referred to an allergist and even the allergist really never said much. I actually cannot even remember what the original allergist told us, but I know we were never shown how to use an EpiPen and I learned, myself, though it was a long time before I learned when and WHY I should use it. Also, the pediatrician told me to carry ONE EpiPen in my purse and ONE at home. I have had more than one allergist’s office do the same to me, when I ask for refills. That is NOT why they come in two packs!
Sorry, I guess I’m off on a tangent, but the point is that I received very little guidance from physicians and most of what I learned about food allergies was learned elsewhere…from blogs like yours and those of other parents, internet research, personal (sometimes unfortunate) experiences, etc.
Selena,
You’re not off on a tangent. Actually, I’m writing a blog about it to post either tomorrow or Friday on just this! Did we realize the severity at diagnosis? Good point!
Beautifully put!! You’re right – when we first discovered Little Miss’ allergy no one really told us the severity. I’m not sure a lot of doctors really “get it” themselves to explain…
That’s why pages like yours, and many other advocates, along with social media can help take a stand and educate!!