Raising children’s awareness of food allergies

The death of three-year-old Elijah Silvera in 2017 shook the city. He had an allergic reaction to a grilled cheese sandwich given to him through a program sponsored by the Administration of Children’s Services in Harlem.

His parents say it was well known and documented that he had a severe dairy allergy.

They took their pain and turned it into purpose, creating the Elijah Alavi Foundation and passing Elijah’s Law. The bill requires all daycare programs in the state to follow guidelines and training to prevent and respond to food allergies.

Dina Hawthorne is his mother and joined “News All Day” for the Wellness Monday segment to talk about her commitment to preventing this tragedy from happening again.

Hawthorne says parents should speak with their pediatrician and ask how to get their child tested for food allergies. If you’re sending your child to daycare, don’t be afraid to be a nuisance and ask lots of questions, including, “How can you protect my child in your facility?” »

Hawthorne hopes to make Elijah’s Law federal law. For more information, visit ElijahAlaviFoundation.org.