Timothy Howard, 22, passed away from a severe peanut allergy a few days after celebrating his college graduation, leaving his family in Massachusetts to mourn an unfathomable loss.
On May 24, Timothy, a recent Communication Studies graduate from the University of Rhode Island, experienced a deadly anaphylactic reaction. Tim and Patty Howard, his parents, reported that the reaction happened unexpectedly in the middle of the night.
In a devastating interview with NBC affiliate TurnTo10, his father recalled, “He came in and woke us up and said that he couldn’t breathe.” “It happened very fast at that point.”
Even though Timothy’s parents called 911 and administered his EpiPen right away, they were unable to save him. An entire crisis had already been brought on by the allergen.
“With heavy hearts, we share the loss of our son Timmy to a severe anaphylactic reaction to peanuts,” Patty wrote on Facebook after sharing the heartbreaking news. He had his entire life ahead of him, and we recently celebrated his graduation from college. We have joined a club that no one wants to be a part of, and our hearts are broken.
She encouraged people to “spread kindness to this world, don’t worry about the little things, and hug your kids a little tighter today.”
Timothy’s fraternity brothers started a fundraiser in his honor to support Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) following his untimely death. In addition to helping finance research into treatments for anaphylaxis, the Give A Hand campaign seeks to increase public awareness of potentially fatal food allergies.
As of this writing, the fundraiser had raised over $27,000, surpassing its $25,000 target.
Timothy was just starting what promised to be an incredible journey, according to a tribute on the page written by Timothy’s friend Kourosh Emami. It depicts a young man who was adored by everyone who knew him. He was kind, driven, and incredibly loved. People felt seen and safe because of him. Despite the difficulties, he never complained. His heart was as pure as they come, and he exuded a quiet but potent optimism.
It went on to say: “He was genuinely one of the good ones; kind, considerate, and incredibly loving toward others. Despite the deep void left by his untimely death, we are dedicated to paying tribute to him in a way that inspires change and purpose.
Timothy was only 22 years old, but he had already made a significant impact on the world. Now, in his honor, his legacy will live on through the work of his loved ones, bringing hope, kindness, and awareness.
