A Tragic Loss on Thanksgiving Inspires a Life-Saving Mission

It was Thanksgiving in Maine when 11-year-old Oakley Debbs, a bright, athletic boy from West Palm Beach, Florida, was on vacation with his family. A straight-A student and avid athlete, Oakley played tennis, football, soccer, and even ran marathons—all while managing asthma and a severe nut allergy.

That holiday, the Debbs family had ordered a Thanksgiving gift basket filled with assorted treats. Oakley decided to try a piece of pound cake from the selection—an innocent decision that led to a devastating outcome and ultimately sparked a nationwide movement for food allergy awareness.

Oakley had always been vigilant about checking food labels, according to his mom, Merrill Debbs. The cake didn’t list any nuts, and nothing suggested it might be unsafe.

“He thought it was just a piece of cake,” recalled his father, Robert Debbs. But after taking a bite, Oakley told his parents he thought it might contain nuts. His mom tasted it and agreed—it had a nutty flavor, later confirmed to be walnut.

As they had done in the past, Merrill gave Oakley Benadryl. “He said he felt fine,” Robert said. At first, the only visible symptom was a single hive on his lip.

But soon after, Oakley complained of chest pain and began vomiting. His parents immediately called 911. Tragically, by the time paramedics arrived just 10 minutes later, Oakley had turned blue—his airways had closed, and his heart had stopped.

The loss was unimaginable.

“I don’t think my beautiful, amazing, talented, adorable son should have passed away,” said Merrill.

In the wake of Oakley’s passing, his family channeled their grief into action. They launched the Red Sneaker Foundation, named for Oakley’s signature footwear, to raise awareness about the dangers of food allergies and the importance of recognizing the signs of anaphylaxis—a life-threatening allergic reaction that can affect multiple organs.

Medical experts stress that even mild symptoms of an allergic reaction should be taken seriously. The immediate use of epinephrine (EpiPen) is critical and can save lives.

“My son was a rock star,” said Merrill. “He was a good, good kid. And in my heart, I always knew he’d make a difference—I just didn’t know it would be after he was gone. That’s what drives me now—honoring Oakley’s legacy.”