Shimmer

Another child is gone. Lost to life threatening food allergies. I can't believe it. I feel like I am beating my head against a wall some days. When will this be taken seriously? Our children (and adults) need to be protected. There needs to be life saving epinephrine everywhere. There needs to be better labeling laws. Schools need to have uniform laws on how to handle life threatening food allergies.
Everyone needs to know that food allergies can be, and are, life threatening!
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/eeai9

Stock epi law and a surprise!

Great news for everyone with a child in school! The stock epi bill became a law yesterday. Even better, there is video of the President signing the law!
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57612201/food-allergy-epinephrine-bill-reaches-obamas-desk/

I was filled with joy when I heard the news. Then I watched the video in stunned silence. The President announced that his daughter, Malia, has a peanut allergy! My jaw was on the floor. He said that she does not have asthma but she has a peanut allergy. What????? I did a quick google search for Malia and peanut allergy. Nothing came up. I found articles that briefly discussed that she has asthma. I found articles about her allergies and how they had to find a hypoallergenic dog (there's no such thing but that's a topic for another day). I found nothing about Malia and a peanut allergy.
I thought about how, maybe, they actually wanted to keep this under wraps. There are crazy people out there and she is the Presidents daughter......first and foremost they need to keep her safe. So, I am actually surprised that he said something. I hope now, that the information is out there, that they would be proactive about raising awareness. Who is more well known than the first family? Wouldn't it be amazing if the First Lady added something about food allergies to her Let's Move and healthy eating campaign? I, of course, feel horrible that Malia has a food allergy. However, this is a huge teaching moment. My children were wide eyed to hear that Malia has a food allergy also.
Food allergies in the White House......

Victory!

Today is a day to rejoice. The President is scheduled to sign the national stock epi bill today! So many people have worked so hard to make this happen. Unfortunately many people were taken too soon, including countless children. I hope this means that their deaths were not in vain. I hope that their families can find some comfort in that. This bill will literally save lives. I feel that my non allergic child will be protected if she should have a first time reaction in school.
I hope that the President signs this bill swiftly. I hope that the signing somehow makes it on the news. Even just a little media coverage raises such awareness.
It's a good day.....
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/food-allergy-awareness-heads-presidents-desk-20872212

Will you help me?

The epi law in NC is going to die for this legislative year if the Senators do not hear from more of us. If you live in NC or know people in NC, please write the Senators and ask them to pass the epi law. 25% of all first time reactions happen at school. This bill is a no brainer in my opinion. It will save lives.
Thank you for your help!

http://www.wbtv.com/story/22852474/parents-pushing-to-get-drugs-in-school-to-combat-allergic-reactions

Here are the Senators to contact:
Senator Tillman (919) 733-5870 Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net
Senator Soucek (919) 733-5742 Dan.Soucek@ncleg.net
Senator Barefoot (919) 715-3036 Chad.Barefoot@ncleg.net
Senator Pate (919) 733-5621 Louis.Pate@ncleg.net

In today's news.....

I have a mish mash of a post today for you-

Rejection number two came yesterday. While waiting in the car pool line I checked email. There it was a lovely form letter, no book published yet.

The NC epi law has four senators that have signed on.....
http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2013&BillID=sb+700&submitButton=Go

If you have not written your Senators, please do so. If you have written your Senators, please write the other ones, share this with friends and family. We need your help to get this passed!
Thank you!
Here is all of the information-
Senate Bill 700 (Non-Specific Epinephrine in Schools) was referred to the Health Care Committee today and the Committee needs to approve it, so the whole Senate can vote on it. Please find the members that represent you and email them AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. FORWARD THIS, FACEBOOK THIS, SHARE WITH ALL FRIENDS AND FAMILY! If you can't find your county listed, just email the three chairmen of the committee, Sen. Hise, Sen. Pate, Sen. Tarte. A sample email is at the bottom of the page. Thank you all so much for your help getting this very important legislation made into law, PAK Coordinators!

Co Chairman: Sen. Ralph Hise (Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Yancey) ralph.hise@ncleg.net
Co Chairman: Sen. Louis Pate (Lenoir, Pitt, Wayne) louis.pate@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman: Sen. Jeff Tarte (Mecklenburg) jeff.tarte@ncleg.net

Members:
Sen. Austin M. Allran(Alexander, Catawba) austin.allran@ncleg.net
Sen. Chad Barefoot (Franklin, Wake) chad.barefoot@ncleg.net
Sen. Stan Bingham( Davidson, Montgomery), Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net
Sen. David L. Curtis (Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln) David.Curtis@ncleg.net
Sen. Don Davis,( Greene, Lenoir, Pitt, Wayne) Don.Davis@ncleg.net 
Sen. Jim Davis, (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain ) Jim.Davis@ncleg.net
Sen. Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr., (Cabarrus, Union) Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net 
Sen. Neal Hunt,( Wake) Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net 
Sen. Eleanor Kinnaird, (Chatham, Orange ) Eleanor.Kinnaird@ncleg.net
Sen. Floyd B. McKissick, Jr., (Durham, Granville) Floyd.Mckissick@ncleg.net
Sen. Earline W. Parmon, (Forsyth) Earline.Parmon@ncleg.net 
Sen. Ronald J. Rabin, (Harnett, Johnston, Lee ) Ronald.Rabin@ncleg.net
Sen. Shirley B. Randleman, (Stokes, Surry, Wilkes) Shirley.Randleman@ncleg.net 
Sen. Gladys A. Robinson, (Guilford) Glads.Robinson@ncleg.net
Sen. Bob Rucho, (Mecklenburg) Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net
Sen. Josh Stein, (Wake) Josh.Stein@ncleg.net
Sen. Tommy Tucker, (Union) Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net
Sen. Trudy Wade,(Guilford) Trudy.Wade@ncleg.net 
Sen. Mike Woodard, (Caswell, Durham, Person) Mike.Woodard@ncleg.net

Dear Senator:

I am a resident of ________ County. As my representative, I am urging you to fully support and help sponsor Senate Bill 700. My child/My grandchild/My dear friend's child has severe food allergies/bee allergies and this could save his/her life at NO COST to the state. 13 states have already passed similar legislation. 

You may recall, an elementary school girl 100 miles from Raleigh, died from anaphylactic shock at her public school. Her school did not have an Epi Pen and deadly reactions happen so quickly, paramedics didn't get there in time. The death was completely preventable! 

Please help the children of our community. If you have any questions or if I can be of further assistance, please contact me. 

Sincerely,

XXXX YYYYY





Last topic for today-We went to a new restaurant! Well, it is new to us. Buffalo Wild wings. They have an allergen menu online and the manager and wait staff were very helpful. We had a great time and the food was good too!
Here's the information on the allergen menu in case you need it.
http://www.buffalowildwings.com/Global/bww_allergen_list.pdf


I hope everyone has a great day! The weather is amazing, it went from winter to summer again. Will we ever get a spring?