ALLERGIES

From Bee Stings to Car Crashes: How MedicAlert Saved My Life

Rick has been a proud member of MedicAlert since August 1968, following a life-threatening incident when he was just four years old.

When Rick was a toddler, he had a severe allergic reaction to penicillin that resulted in a 104ºF fever, a rash, constricted airway, and anaphylaxis so extreme that doctors resorted to ice baths in a desperate attempt to alleviate his symptoms.

This traumatic experience prompted his family to enlist MedicAlert’s emergency services to ensure his critical medical information was always accessible.

Rick, humorously self-described as “allergic to life,” has a vast array of allergies, including penicillin and its derivatives, other antibiotics, insect stings and bites, various pollens, grasses, and foods such as dairy, nuts, pork, chicken, potatoes, eggs, and shellfish.

MedicAlert saves the day

Rick’s mom, like most, was very protective. She used MedicAlert’s services after developing gestational diabetes 4 years prior. Knowing the value of the services, she had the foresight to enroll Rick in MedicAlert, which later proved to be lifesaving. Rick’s younger brother and eight cousins also share his allergy-prone genetics, but to a lesser degree.

At 14, Rick survived a potentially fatal bee attack while enjoying a leisurely bike ride. Unable to breathe and without an epinephrine auto-injector, he was aided by bystanders who, recognizing his MedicAlert bracelet, got him to safety. Two years later, a car accident a block from his grandmother’s house left him unconscious and thrown from the vehicle. Emergency responders promptly read his MedicAlert necklace and provided Rick with the right treatment.

Rick’s reliance on MedicAlert has deepened over the years. Despite the challenges of living with multiple allergies, including avoiding major life-saving antibiotics, he pursued higher education and a career in quality engineering. Growing up as a military child with frequent relocations—26 moves in just his first twelve years—underscored the importance of having something to rely on, and for Rick and his family, that was MedicAlert.

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A lifeline through Rick's life changes

Reflecting on these experiences, Rick emphasizes the profound impact MedicAlert has had on his life, declaring that it “speaks for you when you can’t speak for yourself.” Whether unconscious from an accident or unable to articulate his medical history due to an allergic reaction, Rick finds reassurance in knowing that his MedicAlert information can communicate what he cannot.

In 1988, Rick embarked on a new chapter of his life when he married his wife. They relocated to Michigan the following year and have enjoyed exploring life’s possibilities with their twenty-one-year-old son who has Down syndrome. Amidst life’s changes, one constant remains: his unwavering trust in MedicAlert.

Over the decades, Rick has faithfully worn MedicAlert bracelets and necklaces and now adds wallet cards to his backpack strap and seat belt holder. This ensures that he’s always prepared for any medical emergency. MedicAlert has protected him on numerous occasions by providing critical information during moments when he couldn’t communicate for himself.

More than a membership

For Rick, MedicAlert is not just a membership—it’s a lifeline, a source of protection in an unpredictable world. As he continues his journey, he does so with the peace of mind that comes from knowing MedicAlert has his back, just as it has for nearly six decades.

"MedicAlert speaks for you

when you can't speak for yourself."

Rick, MedicAlert Member

Rick's MedicAlert seat belt holder notifies first responders of his allergies, even if he is incapacitated in an accident.

A seat belt holder can also be used on bag straps, so Rick attaches one to his backpack. It's just one more way to make sure his vital info is with him.