This tween is amazing!

Susan Tatelli is one brave tween! She has life threatening allergies to peanuts, tree nuts and soy. Her mom recorded Susan using her Epi Pen and uploaded it to Youtube. She also interviews several allergy and asthma doctors who talk about when and how to use an Epi Pen. This tween does an AMAZING job using hers!!

Susan wanted to show other kids that it's not so scary - that others can use their Epi Pen if they need to. She has had a LOT of experience using her Epi Pen because she was part of a peanut allergy trial. While she was in the trial, she had 6 anaphylaxis reactions. She used her Epi Pen herself 5 out of the 6 times. Way to go!

I learned something from watching the doctors she interviewed. Dr. Sakina Bajowala of the Kaneland Allergy and Asthma Center shows how to hold the Epi Pen in your palm with your finger and thumb stretched out. 

Then she wraps her thumb around the Epi Pen first. Then she wraps her fingers around her thumb. 

 

She said that stops you from putting your thumb on the top of the Epi Pen (where the safety cap is) I didn't know that - and I have been carrying around an Epi Pen for years!  

   

You can watch the video here. You can see how red Susan's face is before she uses her Epi Pen. Scary stuff! What a brave tween to share her story with others to make it a little less scary.

She is going to do great things in this world!!