This is simply painful to write. I can’t even begin to image what the parents of Natalie Giorgi are feeling at this moment. There are no words, I am sure, to describe their pain. Apparently, the soon-to-be 8th grader was enjoying the last evening of a family summer vacation at a camp. In the darkness of the evening, she grabbed a rice krispie style dessert and realized it did not taste right after her first bite. It was reported that after 20 minutes an allergic reaction began, but the delay in treatment (which included three shots of epinephrine) was not enough. Another important reminder to all of us: if known ingestion, use Epinephrine Auto-injector (EpiPen®, Auvi-Q® or Adrenaclick®). See below for an update with more specific information as of 7/30/13.
image courtesy of News10
Her family wants others to learn from this horrible tragedy, which they shared with the media. I included two news story links below and I wanted to comment that the story from the Sacramento Bee’s website mentioned that they turned off their comment section, stating the sensitive nature of the story of was the reason. I had never seen that before and my heart broke a little more when I realized that they were protecting the family from thoughtless people. Insert HUGE sigh right here.
Updated Story with more details as of 7/30/13–Years of caution peanut allergy fail to save teen who died at Camp Sacramento
Parents Warn of Peanut Allergy After Death of Daughter at Sacramento Camp-Sac Bee
News 10 Reaction to Dessert Treat Claims Carmichael Teen at Camp Sacramento
Prayers and much love being sent to Natalie’s family.
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 heard about this around 10 am today and have been thinking of little else. Utterly heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with Natalie and her family. Second thought … What is wrong with people today that a newspaper has to turn off comments due to the disrespectful opinions on the death of a child. Unbelievable. Have mercy on those souls who can not find it within their hearts to say something kind and sympathetic at a time like this. Honestly, people. Unbelievable.
Stephanie, You took the words right out of my mouth. I had received a text message but was down in Minden most of day to watch my friend’s daughter performance. I waited until I got back into town and was stunned that the comments were turned off! Is that where our society has become? We can’t be civilized during grief or are folks mis-using the anonymous nature of technology to vent our anger from other issues? Either way, our hearts are breaking today. We all cry together.
This is so sad and scary. Praying for her family and friends. Our 18 month old foster child was diagnosed with severe egg allergies when he turned 1. We have had the hardest time trying to get restaurants to comprehend the severity of his allergies. I have had to argue with the owner of a chicken franchise after his manager told us the chicken didn’t have eggs. Our little one started breaking out so I had to give him Benadryl. The manager was so rude that we got online to file a complaint and noticed that the website had an allergy break down and what we were told didn’t have eggs did. When I spoke to the owner he said the same thing the manager had said so I told him he needed to go to their website and familiarize himself with it. He then told me that in all their years of being open they had never had an issue with eggs. I told him they did now and that we would never go back. Just last week we were in a restaurant on vacation and asked about the bread for a grilled cheese. The waitress went and looked and came back and said she didn’t think it had eggs. My husband said we can’t go on a I think it is ok we have to know for sure because he could die so she said she would go and read the package. Unless we are at home I hold my breath every time we are out in public eating. We try not to eat anywhere without checking the restaurant’s website first.
Judi, It is so frustrating when you hear, “I think”. You are right, think is not enough. What I hope for is that restaurants include food allergy training and explain that patrons needs to make their own decisions based on data provided by the restaurant. This is a sad day indeed.
Thoughts & prayers go out to that poor family. For the few thoughtless & cruel people out there I hope the family knows there are so many others who hold them in their hearts.
Jenny, I am sure the family does feel the support from the community. The article from the SAC Bee mentioned an out pouring of support. I hope they realize how many people nationwide weep today with them and who are sending prayers and love.
My heart simply breaks for that family. I feel just horribly that people were so rude that they had to shut down comments. That just adds insult to injury. Breaks my heart again. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family…
Hi Julie, I am happy the SAC Bee was being sensitive, but so sad that our culture is behaves this way. I’m sure they have had similar situations that had brought them to this choice.
Prayers to Natalie’s family.
I am glad they were being sensitive, too, just upset that they have to be! Definitely will be praying for that family.
FYI, the story made it to CBS News and onto Yahoo from there: http://news.yahoo.com/video/teenager-dies-fathers-arms-camp-013900034.html I am hoping that the level of awareness to this tragedy will bring a level of awareness for food allergies. It would be something positive to come from this.
Julie,
I am really happy to see this story hit the mainstream. I was shocked today when I realized how main stream this story is going. Today, a complete stranger on the phone, who lives thousands of miles from here asked me about the story.
I’m pleased to see the increased conversation, but devastated by how the awareness was created.
This breaks my heart. And yet people keep saying it isn’t that serious. Wake up America!
Last night one of my children asked why doesn’t the rest of nation tear up when a kid dies from food allergies like they do for other diseases. I said, I think it is because believe this is rare and they simply don’t understand.
I was at a loss for words to be honest.