Oakley, 11, ate a piece of cake without giving it much thought. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t know what was inside the cake. He died almost immediately…
Thanksgiving is a special time of year that we all eagerly anticipate. It’s a day when we have the opportunity to spend time with our loved ones, our cherished family and friends, and express our gratitude for them.
Unfortunately, this Thanksgiving will forever be etched in the memory of a certain family as the most tragic day they have ever experienced. Instead of joy and love, this day brought them the devastating loss of a loved one.
Oakley Debbs, an 11-year-old boy, made a single mistake, and unfortunately, his parents were unable to assist him. As a result, he has now passed away, leaving his mother and father in eternal sorrow.
The family prepared for the celebration and ensured everything was flawless. They cooked the turkey in the oven and arranged a variety of delicious sweets for their guests. However, they were unaware that the basket of treats and the cake inside would tragically lead to their son’s demise.
The irresistible aroma of freshly baked bread and cookies made everything look incredibly delicious. Oakley couldn’t resist the temptation and decided to try a small piece of the cake that was sitting on the table in the corner of the room. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize it had nuts in it, and since Oakley had a mild peanut allergy, he had an immediate reaction.
He hurried to his mother, who began reading the list of ingredients. The list included walnuts, which caused an allergic reaction. Without hesitation, Merrill immediately gave her son Benadryl, which appeared to be effective. Oakley started to feel improved and even joined his cousins to play outside.
“It went away. Whatever was going on inside of him we had no knowledge of. He seemed fine. He went out to play with his cousins, took a shower and brushed his teeth.”
But the moment the family decided to end the night, Oakley began to complain. He said to his mom:
“I’m getting sick again.”
The symptoms were much worse this time, and the mother couldn’t react quickly. She grabbed her phone and dialed 911.
“He started throwing up and from there it was a tornado of issues. We called 911. By the time the ambulance got there – about 10 minutes later- he was blue.”
The initial responders were unable to save the boy, despite giving him two doses of epinephrine. He was taken to the hospital and doctors tried to save him for four days, but unfortunately, he did not make it. The boy was declared dead.
His mother still remembers that day vividly. She kept blaming herself for not giving him stronger medication initially. She regrets not picking the EpiPen instead of Benadryl. Merrill can’t shake off the idea that he might have survived if she had made a different choice.
Dr. Ruchi Gupta, a pediatrics associate professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and head of the Food Allergies Outcomes Program at Northwestern, explained to TODAY that delayed allergic reactions, such as Oakley’s, are still not fully understood.
“We do not know enough about delayed reactions like these that seem to get better but then progress rapidly to death. That is why it is so critical to know how to identify a reaction and when and how to use epinephrine.”
The family subsequently penned a public letter to all acquaintances and loved ones of their son, as well as those who offered them unwavering assistance.
“‘Love, love and more love. You are all so beautiful. Thank you, everyone, for being with me, especially during this time. I appreciate how strong you have been for me. No one could have done anything else Wednesday night. No one is to blame. If you think you are… DON’T. Don’t PLEASE!
Thank you for everyone wanting to help me. Having a family so thoughtful and caring who loves to laugh makes me the happiest boy. Support each other with determined hearts. Be there to support or to be held. It is the way to get through this time. I am grateful to be part of this family. I am blessed by the grace of God to be in it…
Be cheerful happy and enthusiastic. Show your courage, be at peace. Love your life and live it. That is the best thing you can do for me.
Look for me in the rainbow I will always be there.’”
Merrill is determined to raise awareness about allergies in schools after her son’s passing, hoping it will lead to implementing a nut ban. She started the “Red Sneakers” foundation to educate others about food allergies. Despite her efforts to save her son, she continues to carry the pain of his loss.
You can learn the correct way to use an EpiPen during a severe allergic reaction to food by watching the video below.
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