Allergic Teen Dies After Eating Cookie

[The Straight Story]

Robin Fitzpatrick never knew peanuts could kill her son.

Cameron Groezinger-Fitzpatrick, 19, a college freshman who suffered from a severe nut allergy, died last Friday after eating a cookie that contained peanut oil. His friend had sworn it didn't.

"We were all so shocked, it came out of nowhere," Fitzpatrick told ABCNews.com. "For 19 years, he had been knock-on-wood safe."

The Plymouth, Mass., native was first diagnosed with a nut allergy when he was 8, after projectile-vomiting "across the room" at a Chinese restaurant, his mother said. In high school he suffered from a serious allergic reaction after he dropped his asthma inhaler into a pile of acorns while running. The wild nuts caused his throat to constrict. But he was fine after getting prompt treatment, his mother said.

Then, one week ago, he ate half a cookie.

Spring break had just started and the international business major with plans to study abroad in Australia had only been home for two hours, on a visit from Rhode Island where he attended Bryant University, according to his mother.

He and his friend were out driving and bought cookies. Groezinger- Fitzpatrick's friend ate one first. The friend said he didn't taste any hint of peanut.

http://gma.yahoo.com/allergic-teen-dies-eating-cookie-050855791--abc-news-wellness.html

[B2G]

1. They told her not to use a pen that was only 2 MONTHS

past its expiration?

And she listened to them???

[Paul E Ester]

2. 2 months expired

Odd mom even checked the date while her son was dying.

[unblock]

5. we get fresh a batch every december, and keep the expired ones separate, so we always know.

and we throw out the ones over a year expired.

[sendero]

3. There are a lot of idiots

..... in the world and the idiot that told them not to use an expired pen probably cost the kid his life. Sad. As well as the idiot(s) who listened to them.

[abelenkpe]

7. Are you calling a grieving mother who listened to

First responders and didn't use the expired epi pen an idiot? She lost her son. She will live with regret and pain for the rest of her days. Are you so desperate to feel superior that you need to call her an idiot? Because that is ugly and shameful.

[sendero]

8. I wouldn't say it to her..

.. but yes, she is an idiot. Another person who will take the advice of someone who is supposed to know what they are talking about but clearly did not in a true emergency situation.

I wasn't talking to the mother, I was talking to people here. I'm pretty sure the mother is not going to read my post or I would delete it.

And yes, the truth is often ugly.

And finally, folks who care for a person with such maladies should know basic stuff like, what happens to an epi pen that is 2 months past its expiration. the answer, probably nothing but if anything a few percentage of reduced efficacy, no reason to withhold it at all. That would be like telling a dehydrated person not to drink 15 oz of water because it was supposed to be 16 - so just let them die. Stupid.

[unblock]

4. there's a reason why the proper steps are (1) epi (2) 911 (3) benadryl

the main problem is most medications past the expiration date is potentially diminished effectiveness. then the emts or er doesn't really know how much effective medication is already in the system, so they risk under- or over-dosing. but usually they can manage it.

[CosmicDustBunny]

10. Agreed - Epi comes first. Then 911. Then Benadryl. Then hope.

[unblock]

6. in theory, peanut oil is allergen-free; but we avoid it like the plague.

highly refined oils remove the protein that triggers the allergic reaction. but by definition it's "manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts", and we avoid anything with that message on the label.

besides, if it's not sufficiently refined, or if there's the tiniest slip in quality assurance, ... well, we can't risk that.

[CosmicDustBunny]

9. In a baked good, you can't taste "peanut" flavor. In a stir fry, you can.

My wife's school has a "NO PEANUT" sticker on the door, but it isn't just peanuts (which are actually legumes) but also tree nuts. People laugh about it, "I ate peanut butter sandwhiches all through school and I didn't die." That's just ignorance. Allergies are not something to mess with. As I said, peanuts aren't "nuts", but the allergic reaction is quite similar to tree nut allergies.

Our country still suffers a little ignorance on the subject.

For the record, cashews aren't nuts - they're seeds.
Edit: So are pine nuts.