Hi everyone,

  Well I just had to tell you a quick story. Saturday afternoon we spent

the day cutting down an 80ft black walnut tree in our neighbours yard.
This old tree was unsafe and unstable. It was also the cause of 3 very
severe anaphylactic reactions my 3yr old has had(some of you may
remember Zack having one last fall and I wrote to the list for ideas and

prayers). You see finally the allergist confirmed what I thought all
along, he is severely allergic to walnuts and he has anaphylactic
reactions to them but also has severe asthma attacks when playing
anywhere around the tree. I called the Municipality to find out if there

was any red tape involved in cutting down a tree (I never said
specifically what the tree was) and was told that it was OK. The lady I
had spoken to didnt sound that knowledgable so I just took what she said

and ran with it so to speak because the bottom line is the tree had to
come down and fast. Zack wants to play outside now that the weather is
good and he cant because his astma acts up as soon as he is anywhere
near the tree. Now after the tree is down I find out that I was right,
it was definately not OK that we took the tree down and that we needed
to go through alot of beaurocratic red tape and it probably would have
taken at least 3 years to get permission......if it was granted at
all!!!! We probably would have gotten turned down and would have had to
move......Can you believe this so far!!! I am stunned.
    I am now possibly facing a lawsuit/hefty fine (the figure they threw

around was $100,000.00) because it seems that the particular walnut tree

was very old and was protected by the historical society. The one lady
came down today and was hysterical and screaming that I killed it. I
love trees as much as the next person but this is ridiculous. They are
furious with us for "killing" it. At this time I would like to point out

that we planted 2 brand new trees in the yard to replace the old walnut
tree. Nobody seems to care that this old walnut tree was "killing" a 3
year old child!!!! What the heck kind of world do we live in that cares
more about a "historic" tree than a beautiful innocent child!!!!! I am
so frustrated and angry that I could just scream.
      Well now I am writing letters to every newspaper and publication
in my area. I have contacted my church and since I live in a very small
town it seems as though the community is rallying around us. Zack was in

the local newspaper just last month in an article about my allergy
support group and local hospital closures so he is a VERY well know and
loved child in my area.  Well Im sorry for ranting like this but I just
had to talk to someone and I know that you all are supportive when stuff

like this happens. Thanks for listening!!

Rita
A.S.K. Inc. (Allergic Specific Kids Inc.)
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