It was Thanksgiving in Maine, and 11-year-old Oakley Debbs was on vacation with his family. Oakley, a top student from West Palm Beach, Florida, was also a star athlete, even though he had asthma and food allergies.
For the holiday, his family had ordered a Thanksgiving basket full of treats. Oakley chose to have a piece of cake from the basket.
Tragically, something went wrong after he ate the cake, leading to a heartbreaking event. His family and friends are now working to raise awareness and prevent similar incidents from happening to others.
Despite his asthma and nut allergies, Oakley loved playing tennis, football, soccer, and even running marathons. His family remembers him as a “brave and strong warrior” who fought hard against his conditions.
On November 24, Oakley Debbs, an 11-year-old, had a piece of pound cake that was left on the kitchen table where his family was staying in Maine. His mom, Merrill Debbs, said Oakley always checked labels to avoid nuts and didn’t see any warnings.
“He thought it was just a piece of cake,” his dad, Robert Debbs, explained. “But after he ate it, he mentioned it might have nuts.” Merrill agreed the cake had a nutty taste, which turned out to be walnut.
Merrill gave Oakley Benadryl, as they usually did for allergic reactions, and he said he felt fine. At that point, he only had a small hive on his lip.
But soon after, Oakley complained of chest pain and started vomiting. His parents called 911, but by the time the ambulance arrived ten minutes later, Oakley was blue. His airway had closed, and his heart had stopped.
I’m writing on behalf of Robert J. Debbs, Merrill Debbs, and Oakley’s twin sister, Olivia. It is with a heavy heart that I…
Posted by Tyler Debbs Squire on Saturday, November 26, 2016
The family struggled to accept Oakley’s tragic death and understand why he couldn’t be saved.
“I don’t think my beautiful, amazing son should have passed away,” Merrill said.
In response, the family started the Red Sneaker Foundation to teach people about anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. They chose red sneakers as a symbol because Oakley loved them, hoping to increase awareness about food allergies.
Posted by Red Sneakers For Oakley on Thursday, December 1, 2016
Experts recommend using epinephrine for even mild allergic reactions. Merrill said, “Oakley was a rock star, a good kid. I always knew he’d make a difference—just not after he passed away. That’s a big part of why we’re doing this.”
Please share this story to help raise awareness about food allergies and prevent future tragedies.
This woman came across an old, filthy luggage in a bush
A nurse from Essex, England, found an abandoned suitcase on the pavement on her way to work. Her instincts told her to go closer and look around. When the woman opened it, she was genuinely surprised!
In a bush was found a bag that contained fifteen kittens that were no older than three or five weeks.
The suitcase has multiple holes punched in it so that air could get inside and let the poor kittens breathe. It seems that whoever left them must have wanted them to live. Additionally, the “luggage” was deliberately disposed of next to a well-known animal refuge.
A shelter employee named Alison Gamble was contacted by the nurse for assistance. After examining the animals, Gamble was pleased with how well the kittens were doing, noting that “it’s clear that the kittens have been away from their mother.”
Since the kittens have not yet been weaned, feeding them to a person is necessary to avoid nutritional problems.
Fortunately, caregivers at the facility are ready to search for the 15 souls until they find a home. At this point, the kittens are too young and delicate to be let out into the wild.
“Although the others initially seem to be in good health, we want to closely monitor them to ensure their overall well-being. Six of them exhibit some symptoms of eye infection.”
Watch the video below to hear the full story of the lucky kittens:
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