Alyssa Bauder was just learning how to read, but she had already memorized the colors of food packaging that spelled danger for her: peanuts. The 6-year-old knew to stay away from chocolate dressed in orange or blue and yellow wrappers.
Then everything got bungled on Valentine’s Day. Her first grade class exchanged handfuls of candy all disguised in special pink and red designs.
When Alyssa got home, she tore away the pretty candy wrapper and took a bite of a mini chocolate bar not knowing it was a Butterfinger. Immediately, something didn’t feel right.
Was it her chest or her throat that felt funny?
She wanted water, but couldn’t move.