Thanksgiving is that time of year when we all look forward to spending the day with those we care about the most, our dear family and friends for whom we are grateful. One family, on the other hand, will remember this Thanksgiving as the saddest day of their lives. A life was lost on this day that was supposed to be all about pleasure and love. Oakley Debbs, an 11-year-old child, made one bad decision, and his parents failed to help him; now he is in Heaven, and his mother and father will be heartbroken for the rest of their lives.
The family was preparing for the celebration and wanted to ensure that everything was perfect, so they put the turkey in the oven and ordered a variety of wonderful treats to serve to their visitors. But they had no idea that the basket of goodies and cake inside would be the cause of their son’s death. Nothing looked so good that no one could resist the aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries. Oakley was intrigued by the cake staring at him from the table in the corner of the room, so he treated himself to a tiny slice of it, unaware that it included nuts.
Oakley had a slight peanut allergy, and the reaction was immediate.He dashed over to his mother, who began reading the ingredient list. It had walnuts, which provoked the allergy, so Merrill didn’t hesitate to give her son Benadryl, which seemed to work perfectly. Oakley began to feel better and even went outside to play with his relatives.However, as soon as the family called the night off, Oakley began to whine. He told her mother:
The symptoms were more worse this time, and the mother simply didn’t have time to react. She took out her phone and dialed 911.There was nothing that could be done when the first respondents arrived. They administered two doses of epinephrine to the kid, but it was too late to rescue him. Oakley was taken to the hospital, where physicians struggled for his life for four days before deciding to let him die. The boy was declared deceased.
His mother will never forget that day. She had spent days hating herself for not administering more intensive medication to him in the first place. She should have gone with the EpiPen instead of the Benadryl. But the harm had been done, and Merrill couldn’t get over the fact that he may still be alive if she had made a different decision. Dr. Ruchi Gupta, an associate professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and the director of Northwestern’s Food Allergies Outcomes Program,
told TODAY that delayed allergic reactions like Oakley’s are a mystery.Later, the family sent an open letter to everyone who knew and loved their son, as well as those who offered them unending support.”‘Love, love, and even more love.” You are all stunning. Thank you for being there for me, especially at this difficult time. I admire how brave you have been for me. Nobody could have done anything else that night. There is no one to blame. If you believe you are, DON’T. Please, no!
Thank you to everyone who has offered to assist me. Having such a loving and caring family who enjoys laughing makes me the happiest boy. With resolute hearts, we support one another. Be present to offer support or to be held. It is the only way to get through this period. I feel honored to be a member of this family. I am fortunate by God’s grace to be a part of it… Be upbeat, pleasant, and enthusiastic. Be brave, and be at peace. Love and live your life. That is the most helpful thing you can do for me.
‘Look for me in the rainbow; I’ll be there.’ Merrill hopes that her son’s tragic death would improve allergy awareness in schools, leading to the implementation of a nut ban. She started the “Red Sneakers” charity to educate people about the hazards of food allergies. This mother, who loved her son like only a mother can, will bear the agony of his death for the rest of her life. She tried everything to save her son’s life, but it was simply impossible.The video below will show you how to correctly use an EpiPen in the event of an allergic reaction to food.