Young, talented designer and author Erica Szymanski is petitioning the US Food & Drug Administration requesting that companies be required to list the ingredients in “natural flavorings”….. many of which can trigger allergic reactions. Thus far, she’s received more than 600 signatures for her petition.
Midway through the summer of 2019, Szymanski felt she was having a banner year in spite of challenges. She graduated from Severna Park High School while simultaneously earning her Anne Arundel Community College Entrepreneur Certificate with 18 credits in accounting, marketing and promotion.
She also formed Erica Morgan Books as an adjunct to her already existing company Erica Morgan Designs and had her children’s book, “A Shark’s Tooth Fairy Tale” published by Mascot Books. In the fall, she expected to enter the University of Virginia majoring in business.
Abruptly, Szymanski’s life was turned upside down as she was sidelined by a “trifecta” of illnesses ithat included an allergy/immune disorder called Mast Cell Activation Sydrome (MCAS), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)..
Believed to be hereditary, Mast Cell Activation syndrome occurs when the mast cells in an individual’s immune system trigger mutations of allergic reactions and cause symptoms like hives, breathing difficulties, low blood pressure or gastrointestinal problems.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a connective tissue disorder that causes hyper mobility in joints and is closely linked to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.
“When someone normally stands up, their heat rate will be elevated ,” Szymanski said. “However, POTS is a condition where, when a person moves from a lying down to a standing up position, too little blood returns to the heart. The condition can cause the person to be lightheaded or faint.”
Each syndrome is difficult to diagnose, taking an average of five years. Szymanski believes her earliest symptoms appeared when she was in middle school. By junior year at SPHS, she was diagnosed with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome. By senior year, her Mast Cell Activation Syndrome came into play in a major way causing frequent illnesses. With her usual fortitude, however, she carried on dancing and even appeared in the high school’s popular Rock ‘N Roll Revival.
There are no cures for any of the three syndromes aside from managing symptoms, Like all POTS patients, Szymanski was advised to increase her intake of water and salt and take physical therapy. She also exercises on a recumbent bicycle to strengthen the leg muscles that pump blood to her heart.
As an MCAS patient, avoiding allergens is key because the condition is extremely challenging. Sufferer’s allergies can change without warning. The only way to determine which foods, medications or products are causing an allergic reaction is to keep a written food log.
Szymanksi was never allergic to mint for example. Then, one morning when brushing her teeth with a mint flavored toothpaste, she suffered a severe reaction. Within days, it was determined she’d become allergic to mint.
Achieving a balanced diet is incredibly hard and means she eats mostly unprocessed organic fruits, vegetables and chicken. If she eats processed foods, they’re minimally processed canned or frozen fruits or vegetables with three or fewer ingredients. She avoids products with natural flavors.
Szymanski’s trifecta of chronic illnesses flared shortly after graduation and the talented student was forced to take a medical gap year from university in order to stabilize her health.
Regardless, she is successfully carrying on with her entrepreneurial career through Erica Morgan Designs and Erica Morgan Books. Since published in December, 2019, “A Shark’s Tooth Fairy Tale” has been picked up online by Target, Wallmart, Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The book also received a five-star rating from Reader’s Favorite. She’s done a number of book signings, visited schools, and created an online “StoryTime” for children.
Erica Morgan Books is currently helping another author publish her own book.
Erica Morgan Designs has continued marketing Szymanski’s unique decals, stickers and magnets through a network of 40 retailers in eight states. They are listed at https://www.ericamorgandesigns.com/stockists.html.
Her products are also sold in Annapolis at Whimsicality, Lilac Bijoux and HERE a pop-up shop as well as in Severna Park at Side Street Framers. She’s now doing more freelance design work including a sign and tickets for Craig Conover, a star of the reality TV show “Southern Charm“.
Through Erica Morgan Designs, she’s carried on her many charitable activities including designing, sewing and donating masks for police officers and medical workers throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Szymanski considers creating herFDA petition one of the most important things she’s done because unlisted ingredients in natural flavorings can literally threaten the health and lives of allergy sufferers.
“I was frustrated because my allergens were not among the top eight allergens required to be listed on food labels according to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Act of 2004..” she said. “Allergens not in the top eight (but prevalent among the general population) like sesame and corn, are not required to be disclosed meaning it’s impossible to know what you’re getting. Both ingredients can be hidden under ‘natural flavorings’ – flavorings that may not even be natural but chemical in nature.”
St. Martin’s 8th-graders’ graduation altered but heartfelt
On June 2, St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School held a heartfelt commencement celebration for its 8th graders according to Development and Marketing Director Christine Hickey. Like other educational institutions closed because of COVIC-19, St. Martin’s wanted to do something special.
Hickey said graduates paraded through the campus in cars with their families receiving flowers, “Class of 2020” face masks and a personalized poster board from their teachers. St. Martin’s held a ceremony viewed by car in back of the school where Head of School Jamey Hein celebrated the grads with a speech, graduation certificates, awards and gifts.
Two students, Elizabeth Younkin and Nick Allen, received awards for continuously exhibiting traits of Confidence, Compassion and Character during their time at St. Martin’s.
Students and their families listened from afar to graduation speeches and awards. Some like Cody Fanzo had ringside seats.
The ceremony was touching and a true testament to what a small school can do even in challenging times.
Trevor Mennell and classmates carpooled in style with their families to receive their St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School graduation certificates.
Severna Park Community Library began curbside service
All Anne Arundel County Public Libraries began telephone service with contactless curbside pick-up on Monday, June 8th. For details, visit https://aacpl.net/ or call 419-222-7371.
