Ran into a friend this morning who told me a frightening story. Her six year old nephew, who has a diagnosed peanut allergy, almost lost his life to a brush with a hazelnut last week.
She was not with them in Germany on vacation when it happened. Fortunately, the boy’s dad is fluent in German, so was able to get medical assistance when the allergic reaction blind sided them. As the story was told, the family was walking down the street, when the child’s lips began to swell, tongue began to enlarge and his throat began to tighten. The first responders gave him Benadryl, followed by an Epi shot at the hospital which saved his life. My friend firmly believes they would have lost him, had his dad not been able to speak German fluently.
All this stress and commotion was caused by a hazelnut that was not even consumed. The boy had simply touched it to his lips.
Please let this serve as a reminder to all of us that seconds do matter, and Epi-pens really do save lives.
So, Bud, please continue to carry your Epi-pen and wear your neck chain wherever you go.
Love, Mom
Tags: Epi-pen & Food Allergies
