04/13/2022
Why the broken teal heart? Read the message below. It’s a way for you to share about another loss of life from food - food should not kill. We need a cure for anaphylaxis.
In looking for a way to share the realness of what I, my family and countless others live with I am presenting a symbol of sadness and unity. This symbol, a teal colored hear with a black jagged line through it is just one small way to honor, remember and stand with the family grieving the loss of their loved one to anaphylaxis and / or a fatal asthma attack. I will be posting it on my profile for five days, each and every time another life is lost to these incurable diseases. I ask that you consider doing the same, and please share it with others, asking them to do the same.
This action is not a cure, and it isn’t the only way I continue to work on advocating and bringing awareness to these horrible diseases. I want a cure. We need a cure. I wish to remind everyone around me how we are losing too many people to diseases that should have a cure and have been classified as a global public health concern. It is simply one way to show that we care, we hurt and we want to support the families that have lost their loved ones to anaphylaxis and / or asthma.
This will be my way of showing that I care and I hurt for another life lost. The use of this teal shattered heart is not the only way to show support and it is not the only action I make. I am reminded daily of how much danger I and many others live with. I will continue to advocate for a cure, for further education and a broader understanding of how one bite, cross-contact and air-borne particles can mean death for some of us.
My hopes are that the more people see our profiles, the visual of a shattered teal heart, the more a grieving family will know that we feel their sadness and their loss. I feel that cross-posting the story of a lost life gets buried in our newsfeed and I’ve heard people talking about how they saw the headline but didn’t read it. I hope that we will continue to impact those around us even after the story moves further down our newsfeed and perhaps it will motivate others to reach out to us and ask how more they can help, what more can they do for those with life-threatening allergies and asthma. Especially, for the family that just lost their loved one.
With much respect for the countless lives lost to anaphylaxis and asthma attacks. I am sharing my shattered teal heart. - Christopher.
