Today is the first annual worldwide Loves Remembers Day–Celebrating of Lives Lost to Anaphylaxis. I can’t begin to think about walking in the shoes of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and grandparents who had to say goodbye unexpectedly to someone they loved so dearly. Today we honor and celebrate, with our food allergy community world-wide, the children and adults who have died from allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. World-wide, our food allergy community is wearing teal ribbons, memory shirts or are reflecting on the loss that has also sparked a movement to save multiple lives. Thank you Aleasa Word, founder of Allergy Words Consulting, for establishing this tradition. Your passion has created a path for healing, respect and honor to travel upon. Please take a few moments to listen to Aleasa’s interview with Georgina Cornago–she lost her precious boy, Giovanni, this year to an allergic reaction and is one of the strongest, bravest women who does not want any one of us to experience the same loss. She shares incredibly hard to hear details and Aleasa is so eloquent in her message to us-I am humbled by these ladies. Listen to Giovanni’s Story.
We remember you today Giovanni! Your momma is incredible and will save lives with your legacy.
By sharing the stories of students lost to food allergic reactions, school districts nationwide are adopting life saving policy to stock un-designated stock epinephrine. Here in Nevada we had several well publicized and unpublicized stories of stock epinephrine saving lives. I told the stories of children lost over the last few years during my work on stock epinephrine in Nevada. Every time I drove to my state legislature to advocate, I said a prayer for each child lost. Their spirit and lives motivated me to fight the good fight.
Ammaria’s story touched me deeply and motivated me to work on stock epinephrine in Nevada
These young people are heroes to me.
Their stories saved the lives of Andrue and other students in Nevada. These children made a difference and deserve to be celebrated.
Natalie Giorgi was lost this year on a family vacation
In Nevada, we also honor Kerri Oxoby who died 13 years ago from allergic reaction, after eating candy in which the recipe had changed and it was no longer safe. We shared her story in Washington, DC as we lobbied for food allergy guidelines. Her story was the first we shared and unfortunately, not the last. We created scrapbooks with photos and messages from children in Nevada for Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign and Congressman Jim Gibbons. Our books ended with a beautiful photo of Kerri and a message from her mom. Her story continues to make a difference.
Kerri’s story has saved lives.
Please join me today in wearing teal, saying a prayer, lighting a candle or celebrating in your own personal way, the lives of those lost who inspire us to make positive change.
p.s. Thank you Aleasa for being able to continue your interview with Georgina with such grace and intelligence. I would have been a useless puddle after she spoke, unable to concentrate.
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!..
Caroline, you have added to the many tears I’ve shed today watching this vision of supporting families of the lost come to fruition. I am so humbled and overwhelmed by the massive numbers of people who have taken part in this day and the compassion they’ve shown for each other. I thank you for your kind words and your support for Love Remembers Day.
Aleasa,
I hope there is a glass of wine waiting for you at the end of today. What a wave of emotion this has been!
May all their memories be eternal.