Shortly after, the school nurse asked parents not to pack lunches that contained peanut butter or other nut products. Unfortunately, some parents responded negatively. But not Theresa: her son Jack also had food allergies … as well as asthma.

So, when the school nurse asked Theresa to speak to parents at a parent meeting, Theresa focused on one of the principles of Living Proof Advocacy: making her story vivid and descriptive so the other parents might relate.

“I emphasized that being a parent can be really scary—and you need to rely on and trust other parents and caregivers. I told them my worst story: about Jack losing consciousness in a cab during an asthma attack. I really wanted to bring them into that cab with me, to share the moment of nearly losing my child. I had been doing everything I could to keep Jack’s environment safe, yet this still happened.”

After hearing Theresa’s and other parents’ stories, as well as a well-respected allergist’s insights, parents at Jack’s school understood just how serious food-related allergies can be. Read more of Theresa's story in Living Proof: Telling Your Story to Make a Difference.