Tragic Loss of Kingston Boy After Allergy Incident

An eight-year-old boy has passed away due to a severe allergic reaction after his mother claims he received the wrong treat at a Dairy Queen in Kingston.

Julia Gartland shared with in a written statement that she took her children to Dairy Queen on Monday evening for a dessert.

She mentioned that she ordered her son Liam a vegan dilly bar since he has anaphylactic reactions to dairy, eggs, and peanuts.

The vegan dilly bar is “gluten-free, dairy-free and plant-based,” according to Dairy Queen’s website.

Gartland said when the employee handed over the treat, they stated, “Here is your vegan dilly bar.”

“I didn’t think to check, I just handed it to him,” Gartland recalled. “About five minutes later, he’s telling me he thinks it’s dairy, and we look at the package and it was.”

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Gartland explained that she drove as quickly as possible to get an Epi Pen and called 911.

“They got there but he was already struggling to breathe,” she remembered. “By the time we reached the Kingston Centre, he flatlined.”

A second ambulance arrived at the scene and continued compressions; however, Gartland said her son was in cardiac arrest for 55 minutes, leading to severe brain damage.

Liam’s family had to say goodbye after doctors confirmed there had been no brain activity for 48 hours. Go Fund Me

“They told us at [Kingston General Hospital] to start saying our goodbyes, as they weren’t sure he would make the flight to CHEO [Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario],” she stated.

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Liam made it to CHEO but had a hole in his lung. Upon arrival, Gartland learned her son also had COVID-19, which added more strain on his lungs.

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“His lungs were so inflamed from COVID and asthma that they just couldn’t handle it,” Gartland said.

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After 48 hours without brain activity, Gartland had no choice but to say goodbye.

Gartland mentioned that she and Liam’s father decided to donate Liam’s organs in hopes of helping others. A Go Fund Me page set up for the family notes that helping was one of Liam’s favorite things.

“This decision feels so deeply aligned with who Liam was,” Gartland expressed on the page. “He had the kindest heart and always wanted to help others.”

Darting initially told Gartland that Liam’s heart wasn’t strong enough for donation; however, during surgery it began beating again and was eventually donated to a three-year-old girl.

“While our hearts are shattered, there is comfort in knowing that Liam’s love, kindness, and generosity will continue on through these children,” Gartland wrote in the Go Fund Me. “His legacy will live on not only in our memories but in the lives he is helping save. We are so proud of our boy.”
Gartland noted that the coroner informed her Liam suffered from an anaphylactic reaction.
Dairy Queen did not directly respond to any questions from regarding confirmation of this incident or their protocols about food allergies.

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A Dairy Queen spokesperson stated their “hearts are with the family and loved ones during this difficult time,” adding that they are working with store management who is cooperating with authorities during their investigation.

“Out of respect for the family and the process, we won’t have further comment at this time,” they added.

The Office of the Coroner confirmed with that an investigation is currently underway.

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