An 11-Year-Old Boy Passes Away Unexpectedly Following Consumption Of Cake

Note: This story first gained attention in December 2016.

A young boy tragically passed away after consuming cake, serving as a poignant reminder to parents everywhere about the seriousness of food allergies. While some allergies prompt immediate reactions, others develop gradually and worsen with each exposure. Merrill Debbs, the mother of Oakley, who lost his life after unknowingly eating cake containing nuts, is sharing her heartbreaking experience to prevent other families from facing similar tragedies.

Debbs admits she didn’t fully grasp the severity of food allergies previously, sometimes dismissing them as insignificant. Her son, who had asthma and a mild peanut and tree nut allergy, ate a slice of pound cake, thinking it was nut-free. However, it contained walnuts, triggering a fatal reaction. Initially appearing as a small blister, Oakley took Benadryl and seemed fine, even playing with his cousins afterward.

“Whatever was happening inside him, we had no idea,” Debbs recalled. “He appeared okay, showered, and brushed his teeth.”

Despite the blister fading, Oakley’s condition deteriorated rapidly, which Debbs didn’t immediately connect to the nut allergy. He complained of stomach pain, vomited, and despite thinking he’d expelled everything, his symptoms worsened. Paramedics arrived within minutes of calling 911, but Oakley’s condition deteriorated swiftly.

“Within 90 minutes of consuming the walnut, Oakley passed away,” Debbs said. “His airways closed, and his heart stopped.”

In response to her son’s tragic death, Debbs founded the Red Sneaker Foundation to raise awareness about food allergies, advocating for stricter regulations in schools regarding nut allergies.

“I can’t accept losing my wonderful son,” Debbs said passionately. She’s also campaigning to ban nuts from classrooms to safeguard children with allergies.

Dr. Ruchi Gupta, a pediatrician at Northwestern University, emphasized the importance of recognizing and promptly treating severe allergic reactions.

“We still don’t fully understand delayed reactions that worsen suddenly,” Gupta explained. “That’s why knowing how to identify an allergic reaction and using epinephrine promptly is critical.”
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Sources: Today