Eleven-year-old Oakley Debbs was on vacation with his family in Maine around Thanksgiving. Despite having food allergies and asthma, the straight-A student from West Palm Beach, Florida, was also an outstanding athlete.
For the occasion, his family had purchased a Thanksgiving basket, and Oakley chose to have a piece of cake from the pre-made assortment of goodies.
The tragic course of events that followed led his family and friends to launch a campaign to help spread awareness and stop similar situations from happening to other people.
Despite having nut allergies and asthma, Oakley was an avid marathon runner who also loved tennis, football, and soccer. He fought these illnesses like a “brave and strong warrior,” according to his relatives.
On November 24, Oakley made the decision to indulge in a piece of the pound cake that was left out on their Maine vacation home’s kitchen table. Oakley’s mother Merrill Debbs said that he had to always read labels before he ate anything and that he never saw any indications of nuts.
“He believed it was merely a simple task,” Robert Debbs, his father, stated. However, after eating it, he approached and mentioned that it might have included nuts. His mother tasted some and said it tasted like nuts, which turned out to be walnuts.
Robert replied, “Merrill gave him Benadryl [pills], like we usually do.” “And he returned, saying he was OK.” His lip had a solitary hive at that point, which was his only symptom.
However, Oakley began throwing up soon after he complained of chest symptoms. After his parents dialed 911, he was blue when the ambulance arrived ten minutes later. Oakley’s heart had stopped beating and his airways had closed.
The family then had to accept such a devastating loss and comprehend Oakley’s unsalvageability.
Merrill remarked, “I don’t think my beautiful, amazing, talented, adorable son should have died.”
The Red Sneaker Foundation was founded by the family to inform people about the warning signals of anaphylaxis, an acute, multiorgan, potentially fatal reaction to allergens.
Oakley’s red sneakers have special meaning for his family, so they chose to use them to raise awareness and educate communities of people with food allergies.
Experts advise using the medication adrenaline as soon as possible, even in cases when allergic response symptoms are not severe.
Merrill remarked, “My child was a rock star and a good, good kid.” And deep inside, I always knew that he would have an impact on his life; I was simply unaware that it would come after his death. So, the legacy of Oakley is a major source of motivation for me.
Please tell this story to help spread the word about the risks associated with food allergies and how we can work together to make sure a tragedy like this doesn’t happen again.
