Peanut Allergy Warning
I Wish I Was the Parent Who Was Warned
By Gina Clowes
Andrew Michael Smith was a precious child; an eight year old boy described by his mother Pamela as funny, sweet, and most of all caring. She recalls fondly that if she was ever upset, Andrew would always check on her “Are you okay, Mom? Are you sure, you’re okay?” He was the “glue that held their family together.” He loved sport of all kinds, enjoyed school, and was a joy to be around.
At a young age, they discovered he had a peanut allergy but, it didn’t affect daily life very much. No doctor ever explained to the Smith family that a peanut allergy could be life threatening. Even so, Andrew arranged for his own peanut free table in the cafeteria at his elementary school and had several of his friends join him there. He was aware of his peanut allergy but he was also a very picky eater. So he avoided obvious sources of peanut and kept to the same few foods that he liked and was comfortable with.
Andrew’s life was tragically cut short this past February. His mother Pamela told us that he died from an anaphylactic reaction that was complicated by his asthma. She shared her son’s story in the hopes of saving another child. (Pamela’s responses are bolded.)
Gina Clowes: Pamela you are very generous and courageous in the midst of your grief, to share your story with us.
Pamela Smith: I want to do this. If Andrew could save anyone else’s child, I would want that. That’s what Andrew would want too.
Gina: When did you find out that Andrew was allergic to peanuts?
Pamela:He was about a year old. It [his first reaction] wasn’t as bad. His eyes swelled and we gave him Benadryl. And he was fine.
Did he have other food allergies?
No, but he had asthma.
Did you have to do a lot of label reading?
We avoided peanut; we didn’t give him peanut. But from the beginning he was so picky. He only really ate a few foods and he didn’t eat cookies and candy. We were lucky in that way. So he just stuck to the foods that he would eat.
Did he have other allergic reactions to peanut?
He had another one when he was around three years old. It happened while I was at work and he was at the babysitters. The kids were eating peanut butter crackers and his eyes started swelling. I went there and got him. I gave him Benadryl and he was okay.
In the past, I gave him liquid Benadryl and it always worked.
I was under the impression that the Benadryl was all he needed and it was okay.
Any other reactions?
About a year ago he had another reaction.
A family member had eaten peanuts about an hour earlier and then wrestled with Andrew on the floor. It was hard to tell [what was happening] but he couldn’t breath. He has asthma and a nebulizer, so we gave him that and Benadryl. He still wasn’t okay so we took him to the emergency room.
There was a bump on his arm that was swollen a little. At, the emergency room they said, “It’s the peanut allergy” because Andrew reacted to the peanut oil on contact.
When we were walking out the door to leave, they gave us an Epi-Pen. I said, “What’s this?” They said to “Inject this in his thigh and hold it for 10 seconds.” That’s all that was said. The Epi-Pen they gave us expired in one month.
I feel like I was cheated of the knowledge that I should have been given. I should have known that these reactions could get worse. They never told me that he could stop breathing from this. I wished they would have explained how serious this can be and how quickly things can happen.
After that, we were more careful, but no one told us we needed to get rid of peanuts from our home. But if I would have known how serious this was, I would not have had them in my home.
Do you want to talk about what happened in February?
We do know it was anaphylactic shock. The asthma did come into play. His skin was touched with the peanut oil .
It was Superbowl Sunday. Andrew was excited about the game. There were peanuts around but Andrew didn’t touch them. He was good. He was careful. We still don’t know what he touched–maybe the TV or the remote. It was the peanut oil though.
I was actually at the store when it happened. And you know, he [Andrew] has asthma. And, he was having a hard time breathing and was taking the breathing treatment. He was starting to get upset and crying. He told his dad he needed to go to the hospital.
Mike [Andrew’s Dad] got his shoes on and started up the truck. But he was afraid to take the nebulizer off Andrew because he was really struggling to breathe and his lips were turning blue. So he called 911. Before the ambulance could even get here, Andrew passed out. And then his heart stopped. They told Michael how to give CPR. The ambulance finally got here but they had a hard time getting tubes in his throat. They took him to the hospital and they were able to get his heart re- started, but they wouldn’t let us see him at first.
They flew him to a different hospital, and I had every hope he was going to be okay. I am thankful for those last days we had with him. But after three or four days, we knew he would never wake up. They said even if he ever did open his eyes again, he wouldn’t know what he was looking at. As a parent you put all your feelings aside and do what’s best. We believe so much in a better place. So after five days, we had to let him go.
At first, we though it was just his asthma. They said “no, its anaphylactic shock.” It makes me angry more than words can say. We were never told anything like this could happen.
Is it hard for you to hear about skeptics who think that food allergies are exaggerated?
Well there’s a magazine out that say it’s a myth and it infuriates me. If people are dying from it, that is as serious as serious can be.
What would you like to say to the parents of children with food allergies?
Don’t take one minute with your child for granted.
Get as educated as possible. Make sure you know what you need to know. Make sure you have Epi-pens with you. If it was up to me, there would be no peanuts in schools -ever.
Know how serious this is and how quickly this can happen. I never knew people could die. He could still be here if I would’ve known.
Pamela, thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Andrew is gone. It’s too late for him. If there’s anything I can do to help others, I will.
I wish I was that parent who was warned.
If you would like to contribute to funeral expenses for Andrew Smith, there is an account set up in his name at : Old National Bank, One Main Street, PO Box 718, Evansville, IN 47705-0718.
April 17, 2008 @ 11:36 am
[…] This interview with a Peanut-Allergy Mom has reinforced my perception that you can never be too safe when it comes to your child’s food allergy. This interview with Pamela on ALLERGY MOMS is a sad case to learn from. […]
April 17, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
Gina,
Thanks so much for posting this article. I’m linking to it via a post on my site today in the hopes that we can inform even one more person about the importance of keeping your epi pen close by and educating family and friends about the consequences of exposure.
My heart goes out to Pamela and her family for their loss.
Gabrielle
April 18, 2008 @ 2:46 am
I am so sorry for this terrible loss. It is so extremely disapointing that parents are not being educated at all about food allergies. I had to do all my own research and ask for the epi-pen myself. If I hadn’t my child wouldn’t be here either. He almost died on the way to the hospital 2 years ago.
I am just so broken hearted for this family. I am so sorry that doctors aren’t being better educated on how to educate parents. They shouldn’t be leaving the responsibility of allergy education entirely up to the parents.
I am so sorry for this family.
April 18, 2008 @ 10:19 am
My pediatrician informed me at this last visit that my knowledge about my child’s allergies and asthma and how to live with her food allergies has surpassed his (and I have a great doctor). We have an allergist that we go to for expertise - BUT - I think part of the issue about us getting educated as parents is that our doctors are not up to speed when it comes to allergies. Often I wonder if I am going to another extreme, but this story reminds me how easy it is to lose our children to this terrible allergy (epidemic? Is it getting there?). Thank you for sharing - my heart goes out to you.
April 19, 2008 @ 9:44 pm
This is Andrews mom Pamela an Iam just wanting to thank everyone for taking the time to read our story. I just want everyone to take their childs allergy serious an get well educated for example have an epi-pen with you at all times. Also make sure that your childs school has one an all personell knows how to react quickly. Because some schools dont have a nurse available all day long. Thanks again for all the support an prayers . Hopefully my Andrew will make a difference in someone elses family.
April 20, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
[…] This is a link to another newspaper article on Andrew Michael Smith. A lot of you have written to me with this link. If you havent seen it yet, we have an article in our latest newsletter and on the blog with our interview with Andrews mother Pam, who was kind enough to share their story with us. […]
June 11, 2008 @ 6:52 am
I’m so sorry to hear about what has happened to your son! My daughter (20 months ) was just diagnosed with a peanut allergy. As a teacher, I understand the severity of this allergy and my district trains me in th eEpi Pen and CPR…..but I am most afraid for all my family members that feel this isn’t abig deal! I’m doing my own research adn trying ot find a workshop or session at health clinics to take my family to to educate them. But there just doesn’t seem to be anything out there! I’ll keep searching….but maybe I’ll have to be the one to initiate something for my area. Andrew’s story made a difference in my family!
August 17, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
I’m a culinary arts student and came across this article while doing research on allergies for one of my classes. If anyone is willing, I’m just curious to learn about the difficulties or fears that may result from eating in a restaurant. What can I do in my restaurant to make you feel safe bringing your child in? What mistakes have you seen made?
Just an ‘FYI’: Worcestershire Sauce should be avoided by anyone with a severe peanut allergy, due to cross contamination during production, NOT because of it’s ingredients label. I just wanted to let you all know because I havn’t seen that one on very many of the food allergy lists.
November 26, 2008 @ 1:22 pm
Althought my daughter is not allegic to peanuts, she is allergic to other types. Her sensetivity has been greatly reduced by Homeopathis treatments by Dr. Tenpenny in N. Olmstead OH. I feel they may have been completely relieved had she continued to receive a few more treatments for this stubborn allergy but she became content with the current level of relief. Dr. Tenpenny is so famous that I am sorry so many have not used her fantastic services! It’s a simple fix compared to so much heartache, money & unresolved suffering shared by affected people. She has helped so many people with her uninvasive, simple & effective approach it is clearly remarkable! I had a huge range of problems that have been corrected. Please, this is not an advertizement, just a sincere desire to educate and relieve caos!
November 26, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
response to Megan:
I have seen Icecream parlors use the same spoon that was used in pecans and peanuts also used in the Oreos and sprinkles and chocolate chips when adding a topping to a icecream treat.
I have also experienced several cookie trays that carried assorted cookies placed together with those containing nuts or made in the same facilities that process nuts.
Often just kissing a person who just ate a nut product can trigger an itching on the mouth of an allergic peson.
Best line of defence, I guess, would be to always use seperate utinsils, dishes, bowls, cutting boards and serving trays from products containing nuts and nut extracts. P. S. be sure to wash all in warm soapy water including HANDS!
It was nice of you to ask