Eleven-year-old Oakley Debbs was on vacation with his family in Maine on Thanksgiving. Despite having dietary allergies and asthma, the West Palm Beach, Florida, straight-A student was also a brilliant athlete.
Oakley chose to eat a slice of cake from the planned assortment of delicacies in the Thanksgiving basket his family had bought for the occasion.
His family and friends launched a campaign to help raise awareness and stop similar occurrences from occurring to others after the tragic course of events that followed.
Despite having nut allergies and asthma, Oakley enjoyed playing soccer, football, and tennis and ran marathons. In his fight against various illnesses, his family characterized him as a “brave and strong warrior.”
Oakley made the decision to eat a slice of the pound cake that had been left out on the kitchen table at their Maine lodging on November 24. According to his mother Merrill Debbs, Oakley never ate anything without first reading the labeling and never saw any indications of nuts.
“He believed it was a simple matter,” his father, Robert Debbs, said. “But he came over and said it might have contained nuts after he finished eating it.” His mother sampled some and said it tasted like nuts, which turned out to be walnuts.
Robert said, “Merrill gave him Benadryl [pills], as we usually do.” “And when he returned, he reported feeling fine.” Then he had only one hive on his lip as a symptom.
However, Oakley began vomiting immediately after complaining of chest discomfort. Ten minutes after his parents dialed 911, he was blue when the paramedics came. Oakley’s heart had stopped pumping and his airways had closed.
I’m writing on behalf of Oakley’s twin sister, Olivia, and Robert J. Debbs Merrill Debbs. I say this with sadness in my heart.
Tyler Debbs Squire posted this on Saturday, November 26, 2016.
After then, the family had to accept the terrible loss and comprehend why Oakley couldn’t be rescued.
Merrill said, “I don’t think my gorgeous, wonderful, talented, and adorable son should have died.”
The Red Sneaker Foundation was founded by the family to teach others how to identify the warning symptoms of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic response that may cause multiple organ failure.
The family chose to utilize Oakley’s beloved red shoes as a potent symbol to raise awareness and educate communities about food allergies.
Red Sneakers For Oakley published this on Thursday, December 1, 2016.
Experts advise using the medication epinephrine very away, even in cases when there are only minor indications of an allergic response.
Merrill said, “My child was a rock star and a good, good kid.” And deep inside I always knew that he would change his life, even if I didn’t realize it would happen after he died. Therefore, the legacy of Oakley is a major component of my motivation.