22-Year-Old Dies from Peanut Allergy Days After Graduation: 'Had His Whole Life Ahead of Him'
Timothy "Timmy" Howard suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction, his family confirmed, sharing an emotional tribute
"We just celebrated his college graduation and he had his whole life ahead of him," Timmy's mom, Patty Howard, wrote on FacebookA 22-year-old's family has shared a heartbreaking tribute after he died from a peanut allergy just days after his graduation.
Timothy "Timmy" Howard died on May 24 after suffering a severe anaphylactic reaction, just days after he graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in communication studies, per NBC-affiliated station WJAR.
Timmy's mom, Patty Howard, told the outlet, 'A positive, upbeat, kind, quiet soul. He was on the cusp of living his life.'
Patty added of her son in a Facebook post on May 25, "We just celebrated his college graduation and he had his whole life ahead of him. Our hearts are broken and we now have joined a club no one wants to be apart of."
"Please hug your children a little tighter today, don't sweat the small stuff and spread kindness to this world," she wrote, alongside multiple photos.
Timmy's family revealed he had eaten a late-night snack at home that had been contaminated, per WJAR.
His father, Tim Howard, said, 'He came in and woke us up and said that he couldn't breathe. At that point, it unfolded very quickly,' the outlet reported.
The family administered Timmy's EpiPen and called 911, but it was too late, the station stated.
In a Facebook post, Patty confirmed Timmy's college frat brothers had "started a in loving memory fundraiser page to spread education, food allergy awareness and advancing anaphylaxis research and treatment options," sharing a link to the Give A Hand page, which is raising money for the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) organization.
"Timmy was just beginning what promised to be a remarkable journey in life," a description on the page read. "He was driven, kind, and deeply loved by family, friends, and everyone who had the joy of knowing him. He had so much ahead of him, and he approached life with a rare kind of kindness and light."
"He truly was one of the good ones—gentle, thoughtful, and full of love for others. His unexpected passing has left a profound void, but we are committed to honoring his memory in a way that brings purpose and change," the post continued.
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Loved ones insisted that raising money for FARE, would "help prevent other families from facing similar tragedies, and to make the world safer for those living with life-threatening allergies," saying it's what they believe, "Timmy would have wanted."
"It is not goodbye forever it is until we meet again! We will always love our Timmy," Patty concluded in her Facebook post.
The page had raised over $25,500 as of Thursday, June 5. PEOPLE has reached out to Patty Howard for a tribute but did not immediately hear back.
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