19-year-old whose life was tragically cut short by a severe peanut allergy

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What Happened — The Tragic Incident

  1. The Brownie

    • On November 5, 2024, Hannah ate a brownie that was given to her by a friend from a women’s group on her college campus.

    • The brownie was labeled as gluten-free and used roasted peanut flour (instead of wheat flour) — something Hannah was not aware of.

  2. The Allergic Reaction

    • Very soon after her second bite, she realized something was wrong.

    • She vomited, broke out in hives, and took Benadryl.

    • Her father later said her right lung collapsed.

    • Her heart stopped for about 4 minutes while paramedics were trying to resuscitate her.

    • She was taken to the hospital (later transferred to another) but had severe brain swelling and seizures.

    • Her brain was described as terminally damaged.

  3. Life Support and Organ Donation

    • On November 10, her family made the painful decision to take her off life support.

    • Her organs were donated, and reportedly four people received life-saving transplants.

    • There was an “Honor Walk” at the hospital as she was taken to surgery for organ donation.

  4. Legacy and Family Message

    • Her parents have emphasized the importance of food allergy awareness, especially in foods that might not obviously contain allergens.

    • They also urge families to make sure EpiPens are up to date.

    • The family has formed a nonprofit called “Hannah Helps”, focusing on food allergy education, organ donation awareness, and support for loss.

    • In 2025, they reconnected with at least one of the organ recipients, which they say brought some comfort.

Why Her Case Is Especially Tragic / Important

  • Hidden Ingredients: The use of roasted peanut flour instead of a more obvious peanut product meant that someone with a peanut allergy could easily be unaware of the danger.

  • Cross-contamination Risk: Even in a “gluten-free” context, allergenic ingredients like peanut flour can be used — but people don’t always realize the risk.

  • Rapid & Severe Reaction: Despite having her EpiPen and taking Benadryl, her reaction worsened dramatically.

  • Organ Donation: Her parents turned their grief into a life-affirming act by donating her organs, and they’ve used her story to raise awareness.

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