Real Stories
Natasha had multiple food allergies and asthma. Had she lived, she would now be 23 years old. What I personally find very upsetting, is that many of you have had similar allergy diagnosis journeys as ours and yet ours was over two decades ago.
Allergy anxiety is something I still struggle with, and this has proved a challenge for me at university with moving away, living with strangers and ultimately leaving the comfort zone of my home. However, I truly believe that this change has also been the making of me, as a person with allergies.
It still amazes me how so many people know her story. They may not always remember her name, but they always remember the incident very clearly - as I confirm, “Yes, that was my daughter, Natasha.”
Only allergy parents truly understand the impact that allergies have on their children's lives. For some of us, food allergies have stolen firsts, special moments and what should have been, untainted happy memories.
The role of society should not be to judge who does and who does not have a food allergy - because people with food allergies don't pretend to be allergic.
Natasha’s Foundation would like to see Food Hygiene Ratings also include allergen safety management.
Please share - if it is labelled as VEGAN, it does NOT mean it is safe for people with food allergies.
Meet our new ambassadors and find out what inspires them to support Natasha's Foundation. We feel very lucky to have them on board!
Before she was one, Natasha had 2 anaphylactic reactions. A few months later, she experienced breathing difficulties that hospitalised her - doctors were unsure if it was asthma as she was so young. She took her first steps in the hospital corridor.
"Didn't she have an EpiPen?" This question is often on people’s minds after hearing or reading about what happened to Natasha.