Saturday, August 8, 2015 was a very special day-and not because it was my birthday! Football great, shell fish allergy kind of guy and former Pittsburg Steelers Superbowl hero, Jerome Bettis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is a BIG deal! I had tears in my eyes as he thanked his mother, who attended every professional game he played. He is a beautiful person and not because just because he crushes football. Interviewing him over the years, I’ve watched him grow from a passive food allergy advocate to a strong voice for change and education. Jerome Bettis shared with me not long ago, “education and information is key. That’s where everything starts”. He added, “I have an opportunity, through whatever celebrity I have to try to effect change.”
Food Allergy Mistakes. I have a general idea of what it takes to be a great football player. But, what makes a great food allergy advocate? Someone who spends lots of time on awareness? Someone who talks to lawmakers? Maybe. Or is it an advocate who recognizes his own shortcomings and then realizes those mistakes could have cost him his life. So he decides he had better do something about it. Including, speaking to lawmakers and educating thousands on the severity of anaphylaxis. I was honored to interview Jerome Bettis again and I really just sat inspired and in awe of him, not over his football greatness or celebrity. But learning about how he was not managing his life threatening shell-fish allergy properly until he joined TeamAuvi-Q® – the epinephrine auto-injector that ‘talks’ a person through the injection process. Jerome, also known as The Bus, explained, “here I was in the dark, thought I knew everything about my body, but I didn’t. That was the ignorance of not being educated”. He is very concerned about youth not understanding the severity of food allergies–just as he did!
Doing His Part. I wonder if The Bus’ work as a spokesperson forAuvi-Q® maybe saved his life? How many times have you and I met people who have life threatening food allergies and don’t carry their epinephrine auto-injectors until they are in crisis? Too many. “I don’t want the ignorance I had, putting myself at risk, I don’t want others to be in that same situation. If I can educate someone, then I have done my part,” explained Jerome. This is why The Bus continues to educate and advocate for anaphylaxis awareness and safety. He also advocates for change and has some very good tips for speaking to law makers. I will share those next week when we talk about advocating for the new Airline legislation that was introduced last week.
Jerome uses Team Auvi-Q®‘s Severe Allergy and Anaphylaxis Playbook to encourage people to create their own playbook to managing life threatening allergies and anaphylaxis. He is in it to win it in the world of food allergy awareness. Too bad we don’t have a Food Allergy Hall of Fame!
Congratulations Jerome Bettis on your induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and for your stellar food allergy activism! We are proud of you and look forward to seeing what’s next.
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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!..
Since Canton, Ohio is my home town it would gave been great to have been there at the enshrinement. I’m sure many of my extended family was able to see that great moment. Congratulations Mr. Bettis, can’t wait to see what your next moves are going to be!
This is such fantastic news and I hope you had an amazing birthday lady! You deserve to be inducted into the allergy activist hall of fame!
Haha! Thanks Alisa. We are all pretty proud of his work–on and off the field. Too bad I don’t watch football. I like the European kind of football myself.