As someone who has lived with severe anaphylaxis to both tree nuts and peanuts her entire life, Kelsey understands firsthand the fear and frustration that comes with food allergies. Despite her best efforts and constant vigilance, Kelsey's allergy has almost taken her life, twice.
Food allergies affect an estimated 32 million Americans including 5.6 million children under age 18. That’s one in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom (FARE). Anaphylaxis can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen, leading to potentially life-threatening reactions.
In this raw and emotional episode, Kelsey shares her personal experience living with life threatening food allergies and the seriousness and the reality of living with allergies. Kelsey also opens up about her biggest scare and near death experience, as well as how to thrive with life threatening allergies, not just survive.
Passionate about helping to create safer environments for everyone living with food allergies, Kelsey has started a petition to mandate all public buildings - including privately-owned restaurants - and all commercial airline flights to carry EpiPens. These essential medical devices should be easily accessible for those living with food allergies.
The presence of EpiPens in these locations could mean the difference between life and death during a severe allergic reaction. By signing this petition, you're advocating for increased awareness about the severity of food allergies and promoting accessibility to crucial medical resources.
To sign Kelsey's petition, visit: https://www.change.org/p/mandate-the-availability-of-epipens-in-all-public-buildings
0:23 - Introduction
5:40 - Kelsey’s personal experience living with allergies
5:50 - Difference between being allergic to peanuts vs tree nuts
6:24 - What happens when you have an anaphylactic reaction
7:31 - When Kelsey discovered her allergy to peanuts and tree nuts
9:17 - Testing for allergies
13:20 - Allergy treatments
18:20 - Kelsey’s biggest scare
23:00 - Near death experience
35:00 - Kelsey’s last allergy testing
36:00 - Access to EpiPens
37:35 - No longer allergic to almonds
41:00 - Travelling with severe allergies
45:00 - Another close call
48:00 - Not something to make fun of
52:45 - Respect & kindness goes a long way
53:00 - Kelsey’s petition