Norfolk girl heads to Congress

NORFOLK,Va. - A Norfolk second grader with a deadly food allergy is on her way to Capitol Hill with a message for Congress.

Rylee Sadler is one of an estimated three million kids with food allergies in the U.S. The school cafeteria can be both a scary, and potentially deadly, place for kids like Sadler.

"Rylee is classified as deadly allergic to peanuts," her mom Donna Sadler told WAVY.com.

Donna learned of the allergy when Rylee was just 18-months-old and took a tiny taste of peanut butter.

"[I] turned around and literally in a matter of seconds I was watching her eyes swell shut," Donna remembered.

While Rylee is too young to remember, she is old enough to go to Capitol Hill and talk about it. "I'm going to tell them my story about peanut allergies and how scary it can be when you have a peanut reaction," she said.

Rylee is one of 80 from around the country chosen by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network to ask their local members of Congress to pass legislation. Specifically, to direct the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Education to develop guidelines for schools.

Rylee's school, Holy Trinity in Norfolk, already made voluntary changes.

They took peanut butter off the hot lunch menu and replaced it with cheese.

Rylee's classmates also have blue wristbands that say: "Food Allergy P.A.L.' to remind them of their job to help protect her.

One child is also designated guardian of a backpack that holds a life saving shot.

Rylee knows how to use it and the seven-year-old is confident she can handle Congress too.

She'll be on Capitol Hill at the end of the month.

Related Website: Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network www.foodallergy.org/