My name is Amanda Roberts and I live in Washington. I have a severe
allergic reaction to latex resulting in anaphalaxis.

On Saturday Feburary 5, 2005 my husband and I were dining at a
catered event for his command (USS Pennsylvania). This event was held
at our new Kitsap Conference Center in Bremerton. The conference
center is the one who catered this party.

They were serving fish, ribs, fruit, dessert, potato salad, macoroni
and cheese, corn on the cob and cornbread/rolls. I ate the ribs,
potato salad, corn on cob and fruit. About 20 minutes into dinner I
began to realize that I was beginning to itch and feel very
uncomfortable. I asked a near by waiter if by chance there had been
someone in the kitchen using latex. He went to the kitchen and came
back to say that everyone used latex.

My husband left the table to go find benadryl and I proceeded to get
worse. I asked a nearby friend to help me to the bathroom and
administer my epi-pen. The friend accidentally injected herself and
no me with the epi-pen. 911 was called and a ambulance was summoned
to help because I was beginning to go into respitory failure and
shock. After several hours at the hospital I was released with
several days of steroids and high powered anithistimines and was told
to come back if the symptoms reappeared. Because I injested the latex
it would take a few days to totally leave my system. I have since had
several little breathing and itching episodes.

I think that a sign should have been posted somewhere in that
facility warning that latex had been used. I think that they should
take reponsibility for the health of others. They are serving food
and handleing utensils, cookware, dishes, glasses...etc with a
product that affects 1 out of 27 people. Granted 1% of the population
is as sensitive as I am I still think that it should be made aware to
the public that latex is used.

If there is anything you can do for me or any info you might be able
to provide please email me back. Thank you for your time in this
matter.

Sincerely,
Amanda Roberts