It's just wrong. I can't accept the recent food allergy deaths in Atlanta, GA-the lessons I've learned

I just can’t shake these two heart breaking deaths in Atlanta.  It’s just ridiculous–this should not be.  Death by a peanut?  Who wants that on their tombstone?  I would hope that when I die my tombstone would say something about how I died rescuing orphans from a burning building.  I can’t accept that these two young men, who were clearly living a wonderful life were swooped out from their families due to food!  The thing that sustains us and gives us life has given these two boys death?  Seriously?  I just can’t accept this in any sense.  I know I can get over dramatic here,  this is just really tough.

These tragedies have brought me a few important lessons…
1. Be grateful.  I simply must be grateful every single day and I must be thankful for everything that happens…the good, the bad and the ugly!
2.  Don’t assume.  I must always remind myself that I can’t assume “it won’t happen to me”.  I must always be aware and I must teach my children to be aware and never drop their vigilance.  Not afraid, just aware.
3.  Be prepared.  I must remain strong about always insist on my kids carrying their  Epi Pen®s at all times period.  Last year, there were a few instances where my kids and their Epi Pen®s were separated.  I need to remain diligent about this and most of all, instill this concept in them as they grow up.
4.  Educate.  I will not only educate others, but continue to educate my children to be advocates for themselves.  Isn’t it my goal to raise my children to be able to head off to college and be independent?  I need to begin now and continue to insist on our food allergy rules and policies are to never be broken.  Period.
5.  Find a cure.  I try to support all fundraising efforts to find a cure that roll my way, but I do need to step it up a few notches.  It’s time to get gritty and find a cure.
6.  Be grateful again.  Be grateful that there is a food allergy community out there, as the Food Allergy and Anaphlaxis Network says, “we’re all in this together”.

These two boys simply can not die in vain.  I feel, as part of this larger food allergy community, that we need to now do the work that these two young men suffered for:  save lives through education and find the cure for food allergies.  We must take this tragedy and turn it around to create positive change. I personally have used their stories to educate my son who is entering the “nothing-can-hurt-me” teenage years and others who don’t think this disease is serious.
I hope the families of these boys feel the love and support coming from our food allergy community and I pray that they find peace one day.