Boy, 12, With Milk Allergy Nearly Dies After Eating Parve Pizza
"I Could Hear Him Choking": A mother from Yeruham recounts the terrifying moment her 12-year-old son nearly died from a severe milk allergy after eating "dairy-free" pizza. "I thought my world was ending," says Dana, calling his survival a miracle.
A 12-year-old boy from Yeruham, who suffers from a severe milk allergy, was rushed to Soroka Medical Center in critical condition this week after unknowingly consuming pizza contaminated with traces of dairy.
The harrowing incident, as reported by Channel 12 News, unfolded when Gefen went out for pizza with friends at a local pizzeria. His mother, Dana, had called ahead to stress the seriousness of his allergy and specifically requested a dairy-free option. "I told the seller twice that my son is allergic to milk," she explained. "I asked for just dough, pizza sauce, and toppings, basically, a parve pizza."
Moments after eating, Gefen felt a tingling sensation in his tongue but brushed it off and headed to a soccer game with his friends. However, the physical exertion quickly worsened his symptoms, leading to severe shortness of breath. In a panic, he rode home alone on his electric scooter without alerting anyone to his distress.
By the time he arrived, he was on the brink of collapse. Dana, who had been talking to him on the phone, recalled the terrifying moment: "He said he couldn't breathe. I could hear my child choking over the line."When she got home, Dana found her son unrecognizable—his face swollen and round, his lips turned blue. "It was like seeing a different child," she said. "I thought my world was ending."
Paramedics from Magen David Adom arrived swiftly, administering oxygen on-site before rushing him to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba via intensive care ambulance. En route, a rash spread across his body, and the facial swelling intensified
.Dr. Nitzan Abelson, a senior pediatrician at Soroka, described the episode as deeply alarming and potentially fatal. "This was a very disturbing case," he said. "The boy likely had a mild initial reaction to some dairy exposure, but the physical activity triggered a sharp respiratory decline."He stressed the urgency of such situations: "Events like this highlight how a seemingly minor reaction can escalate dramatically under stress, exercise, or illness. Immediate adrenaline injection is crucial."
Once stabilized at the hospital, Dana expressed profound relief. "The doctor told us Gefen was saved by a miracle," she said. "The fact that he's standing here today is truly a gift."Despite the ordeal, Dana holds no grudge against the pizzeria owners, who have since apologized. "They tried their best for him, they just don't know how it happened," she noted. Still, she offered a cautionary word to fellow parents: "If there's any doubt, don't take the risk."