Teen dies after eating cookie containing peanut

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

While his aunt shopped Tuesday, 15-year-old Jharell Dillard ran outside to grab a snack from the car. He remembered there were cookies and he grabbed one, his father told the AJC Thursday night.

Jharell Dillard, 15 died after eating a chocolate chip cookie that had traces of peanuts, which triggered a fatal allergy attack, according to his father. Dillard, seen in this 2007 photo, was in the 11th grade at Central Gwinnett High School.

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But the chocolate chip cookie also contained traces of peanuts, sending Jharell's body into shock. Jharell's allergy caused his tongue and throat to swell and restricted his breathing, Charles Dillard said.

The teen was transported Walton County Medical Center Tuesday, then flown Wednesday to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, where he died.

"This was one of those freak accidents," Dillard told the AJC. "He was very, very careful about what he ate."

When he realized the cookie contained nuts, Jharell ran to a nearby McDonald's, where he tried to rinse his mouth out, his father said. The teen also took an over-the-counter allergy medication, but the reaction continued. A family member called 911 and Jharell was transported to the hospital, but it was too late.

Jharell, who was in the 11th grade at Central Gwinnett High School, normally didn't carry an injection of epinephrine, known by the brand name EpiPen, because he was aware of his allergy and generally cautious. After his death, Jharell's parents decided to donate their sons' organs.

"He has already saved seven other lives," his father said.

Jharell was very involved in his church, family friend Roland Pinder told the AJC.

"Jharell was a soft-spoken, low-key kid, but he didn't go unnoticed," Pinder said.

In addition to his parents, Jharell is also survived by two sisters.

Funeral arrangements are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 28 at Stone Mountain Seventh-day Adventist Church.