A single food allergy, like peanuts, can turn a family party into a dangerous situation.
The Suhy family in Independence knows this all too well, losing their daughter Ally to an allergic reaction.
Now they’re turning their loss into hope for others.
Allison Suhy was student at Ohio University who, all her life, had a peanut allergy that she vigilantly paid attention to. But while a student at Ohio University, Allison unknowingly ate a donut with some kind of peanuts in it, and she lost her life. Her dad Michael is stopped in today to tell us about a foundation that he and his family are setting up in Allison’s name to make certain that no other family will ever go through what his family has had to endure.
One night, Michael Suhy got the call no food allergy parent wants.
After she was diagnosed with a peanut allergy as a toddler, Allison Rose Suhy’s family learned how to navigate birthday parties, summer camps, or class snacks – all the usually benign but potentially dangerous moments in the life of a child with a food allergy – by simply eliminating peanuts from her world.
Guest Columnist Michael Suhy is the founder of the Allison Rose Foundation (ARF), a 501(c)3 dedicated to changing the lives of food allergy families through education, awareness, research and advocacy.
One in 12 children is diagnosed with a food allergy. My daughter, Ally, was one of them.
Learning of her nut allergy as a toddler, my family and our tight-knit community were aware and understood that eliminating nuts from any foods Ally might ingest or come in contact with was critical. While her food allergy was part of our every day, Ally lived and experienced life like everyone else.
If is safe to say most parents worry about their children when they go away to college. But when Independence resident Michael Suhy dropped his daughter, Allison Rose, at Ohio University, her nut allergy wasn’t a major concern for him or his wife, Rebecca.
“While is was a pert of our everyday lives, we felt she was equipped with the knowledge she needed to manage it once she went away to school,” Michael said.
Allison, known by friends and family as Ally, was diagnosed with a severe nut allergy as a toddler when she developed a rash after coming in contact with a product that contained nuts.
Michael Suhy remembers spending an enjoyable day in November 2017 visiting his daughter, Allison on the campus of Ohio University, where she was a freshman.
But, when that Saturday came to a close, Suhy recalled, “I kissed her goodbye never thinking that it would be the last time I would talk to her.”
Sometimes out of the most tragic of circumstances can come motivation, strength, and passion to make the world a better place. That is certainly the impetus behind the newly launched Allison Rose Foundation website.
Allison was diagnosed with a severe nut allergy as a child and found a supportive and safe environment created by
both her parents and school. When Ally was a freshman at Ohio University, she suffered an allergic reaction that sent her into anaphylaxis and ultimately took her life.
Allison Rose Suhy was a toddler when she broke out in a rash. After a visit to the pediatrician, her parents learned she had a peanut allergy.
Under the care of her parents, Allison flourished, learning how to read labels and take action when she showed signs of reacting.
Nonprofit created to honor the memory and legacy of Allison Rose Suhy
CLEVELAND, OH.—November 1, 2018—Severe food allergies are on the rise and continue to be misunderstood. If proper education is put in place from a young age, food allergy sufferers, their support systems, and the general population, will be properly informed and prepared to understand, recognize and effectively manage a severe food allergy and life threatening reaction.
In an extreme effort to prevent families from experiencing the food allergy tragedy of a child or young adult, the Allison Rose Foundation announces today its official launch. Dedicated to changing the lives of food allergy families through education, awareness, research and advocacy, the organization strives to decrease and eliminate untimely deaths of children and young adults due to food allergic reactions. As food allergy children evolve through their stages of life, their supporting communities change making food allergy education crucial.
The Allison Rose Foundation was formed in memory of Allison (Ally) Rose Suhy, a Cleveland (Independence), Ohio native whose life ended tragically in November 2017 as a result of an anaphylactic food allergic reaction.
Following her unexpected death only three months into her new life as a college student, her family vowed to find purpose in their tragedy. “To us, creating the Allison Rose Foundation was a way to honor Ally’s impactful life and ensure her legacy be inspirational,” said Michael Suhy, founder, and Ally’s father. “We do not want to see another family experience what we have, and by creating the Foundation and carrying out its mission, we believe we can save lives.”
The Allison Rose Foundation will host a Founder’s Event Saturday, January 26, at the Embassy Suites in Independence, Ohio from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Funds raised during this event, and through ongoing donations, will be used for educational platforms and scholarships, awareness campaigns, research and continuous advocacy.
For more information on the Allison Rose Foundation, its Founder’s event and ways to contribute, please visit allisonrosefoundation.org or @allisonrosefoundation on both Facebook and Instagram.\
About Allison Rose Foundation
The Allison Rose Foundation was formed to prevent other families from experiencing the tragedy and untimely food allergy death of a child or young adult.
As food allergy children evolve through their stages of life, their supporting communities change making food allergy education crucial. Severe food allergies continue to be misunderstood. Therefore, if proper education is put in place from a young age, food allergy sufferers, their support systems, and the general population, will be properly informed and prepared, to understand, recognize and effectively manage a severe food allergy and life threatening reaction.
Dedicated to changing the lives of food allergy families through education, awareness, research and advocacy, the Allison Rose Foundation strives to arm families with a comprehensive food allergy support system, and ultimately, a cure.
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For more information, contact:
Rebecca Suhy
Allison Rose Foundation
216.401.2253
rebecca@allisonrosefoundation.org