Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together, but for one family, it became a day of tragedy. Oakley Debbs, an 11-year-old boy, passed away due to a severe allergic reaction. The family had prepared a delicious meal, including a cake that contained nuts, which Oakley was allergic to. Despite taking Benadryl, Oakley’s symptoms returned later in the evening, and his condition rapidly worsened. Despite the efforts of emergency services, Oakley could not be saved.
Oakley’s mother, Merrill, blames herself for not using an EpiPen instead of Benadryl. Delayed allergic reactions like Oakley’s can be puzzling and escalate quickly, according to Dr. Ruchi Gupta, a pediatrician. The family issued an open letter expressing gratitude for the support they received and emphasized that no one should blame themselves for the tragedy.
In the aftermath of Oakley’s death, Merrill aims to raise awareness about food allergies, particularly in schools. She advocates for nut bans and created the “Red Sneakers” foundation to educate people about food allergies. Despite her efforts, Merrill continues to mourn the loss of her son, knowing she couldn’t save him.
A video accompanies the story, demonstrating how to administer an EpiPen during an allergic reaction. It is encouraged to share this story on Facebook to raise awareness about the dangers of food allergies.
