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.
I Got Attacked by a Dog — Now I Have Hair Growing on My Nose
A woman whose nose was ripped off in a vicious dog attack now has hair growing out of her skin grafts. What she’s going through is as odd and rare as it sounds, and it has left everyone shocked. Read on to discover her story.
She was attacked by her dad’s rescue dog.
In September 2022, Trinity Rowles’ life took a dramatic turn when her dad’s rescue dog attacked her. The dog, a Pitbull-Bulldog mix named Irish, had always been a gentle giant, more like a “great big teddy bear.” Trinity often looked after him, especially when her dad was away. But on that fateful day, after an argument with her dad, the tension in the house may have set Irish off.
Trinity remembers the attack as completely out of character for Irish. She explained that breeds like Irish are very emotional and can react unpredictably in high-stress situations. “Animals can only communicate in so many ways,” she said. When she started to walk away, Irish suddenly attacked, leaving her shouting that the dog was biting her nose.
Rowles has very blurred memories about the episode.
the hospital, and after that, her memories were a bit fuzzy.
The recovery had been long and painful.
Trinity Rowles was in the hospital for four days after the attack and then had to go back for surgery to fix her nose. At just 20 years old, she’s already had four surgeries and might need up to six more to repair her face. One of the surgeries involved a skin graft from her forehead and scalp, which even led to hair growing on her new nose, something she is struggling with every day.
The whole experience left Trinity with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), causing her frequent flashbacks, trouble sleeping, and a need for therapy and medication. To help cover the costs, a fundraiser was set up, and so far, over $6,400 has been raised toward the $10,000 goal.
The attack has shaken Trinity’s confidence, making it hard for her to accept her new appearance. She’s now much more aware of the dangers dogs can pose, something she hadn’t thought about before. On top of everything, she’s struggling with the mental impact of having hair grow on her nose, forcing her to shave twice per week.
She now has a whole community following her journey on social media.
The 21-year-old has been sharing her recovery journey on TikTok, posting updates about her healing process, including the unexpected hair growth on her nose. In a recent video titled “Let’s remember to be nice to humans,” she reintroduced herself to her audience, many of whom know her from the attack by a family member’s dog.
In the post, she expressed her gratitude to those who have supported her from the beginning and took a moment to address her critics. She acknowledged her appreciation for her supporters and suggested that despite the negativity from some, her experience has allowed her to connect with others who have faced similar situations.
Here, we explain why some hair can grow in extremely odd ways.
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