I know most of you that follow my tech blog expect a pretty wide variety of tech-related topics, but today's post is something on a far more personal level and if there's ever a time to steer away from tech briefly, it's to reflect on a major life event. Before I continue, I want to make it absolutely clear that this post isn't about gaining attention or sympathy, but rather promoting a general understanding of how severe peanut allergies are and how everyone can take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of those affected by peanut allergies.
Last Saturday (April 27th), I rode my bike to the local Stewart's in Queensbury with my neighbor to grab a quick snack. As we approached the store, we noticed a bake sale going on in front of the entrance to the store. Being naturally curious, I walked up to the table and began talking with the ladies running the sale. I immediately noticed almost everything was peanut butter-based. This should have been my immediate hint to just walk away. And for many years (my last peanut reaction was when I was 5), I have been very careful and didn't take many risks regarding baked goods. But for some stupid reason, when I saw that the chocolate oatmeal cookies were on a separate tray and separate bags, I trusted the woman's word that they were the "peanut-free" option. As it turns out, they had been on the same plate earlier in the day, and my neighbor tells me the "peanut-free" cookies tasted like peanut butter. Nevertheless, it was ultimately my own stupidity for taking a bite of the chocolate oatmeal cookie. Within 2 minutes, I could feel that awful, unpleasant tingling sensation in my throat as it began to swell. I called 911 and my mother, with she arriving moments before the ambulance. By the time I was being lifted into the ambulance on the stretcher, I was vomiting violently (sorry for gross details!) and my airway was closing fast. This is a severe attack known as anaphylactic shock. By the time I got to Glens Falls Hospital, I was quickly losing consciousness and becoming even more violently ill. I remember several minutes that seemed like agonizing hours of not being able to breathe at all, as the medical staff rushed to save me. From what I was told, and judging by the large IV in my thigh, my veins kept collapsing, making the medical staff's job even more difficult. Amazingly, they eventually brought me back to good health and I couldn't even begin to explain how grateful I am to be alive. They transported me to Albany Med where I stayed overnight for observation and for the slight risk of a second attack. Fortunately, there was no second attack and I was eventually discharged the next day. This entire near-death experience has completely revamped my value of life in general, and while I have always believed that every day is a good day to be alive, last weekend really cemented that outlook of mine.
Unfortunately, my recent near-death experience is nothing uncommon in regard to peanut allergies. There are many people who can have a severe attack just by being around peanuts or touching them. I'm currently only at risk for having a severe attack if I ingest peanuts. I realize that there are many foods that people can potentially be allergic to, but peanuts are such a hugely known allergic danger, it boggles my mind at how often they are used in baked goods for public events, parties, bake sales, etc. But don't misunderstand my words! I would never imply that those whom enjoy baking or cooking with peanut products shouldn't do so at all. Who am I to dictate what you bake or cook? I do feel it's reasonable to say that for ANY public event, party, bake sale, etc, it's always a safe, responsible and wiser decision to not use peanut products in the ingredients of your food. So many possible severe anaphylactic attacks, and perhaps deaths, can be easily avoided by simply remembering that for many people, peanuts are a deadly poison! Of course, people with severe peanut allergies should carry an Epi Pen to public events, but this doesn't change the fact that we all should be proactive in preventing allergic reactions. Does that famous recipe of yours really need peanut butter as an ingredient? Do you think about potential allergies to nuts when baking?
In conclusion, I do realize that at the end of the day, I ultimately am to blame for stupidly trusting a cookie from a bake sale where peanut-based goodies were being sold. But it also occurs to me that there are still many people like the woman who was insisting the chocolate oatmeals were "peanut-free" whom are unmindful of the dangers of peanut products. If this post did anything for you, I hope it keeps the severity of peanut allergies- as well as the massive number of people who suffer from peanut allergies- in the back of your head for the next time you are baking or cooking something for a public event of any kind.
Thanks very much for reading!
-TJ Volcheck
