These days, LaRae Hlavaty is all about raising awareness.

She’s lost too much, experienced too much hurt, not to be.

On July 16, 2020, her husband, Ron, was stung while putting chlorine in the swimming pool at their Mahoning Township home.

LaRae said Ron was able to make it into their home to call for help.

“We never knew what actually stung Ron or how many times,” LaRae said. “He reported it as a hornet sting on the 911 call.”

By July 21, LaRae said there was no human activity.

Just like that, her beloved husband of 47 years, Ron, was gone.

He was 73 years old.

LaRae said Ron had seasonal allergies, and that neither of them had ever been tested for allergies to bee stings.

She said that Ron had numerous health issues over the years, and his immune system had become compromised.

LaRae said Ron previously endured two heart attacks, survived several rounds of radiation for cancer, had a mini stroke, and had sepsis that had him in ICU for four days, and was given last rites at the time.

“But, even with all of his previous health issues, Ron was in good health,” LaRae said. “He was very active.”

LaRae said she’ll never forget the day she received the call.

“I assumed Ron had a heart attack when my neighbor called me to say there were two ambulances in our driveway because of the previous ones,” she said. “Of course when I got to the ER, the nurse told me it was a sting issue.”

In addition to LaRae, Ron left behind two daughters, Tara, and Nicole, along with four grandchildren.

Lifesaving device

Since Ron’s passing, LaRae said she’s taken it upon herself to help raise awareness.

“I didn’t want his death to be in vain,” she said. “I want to make awareness.”

Which is why LaRae is a huge proponent of EpiPens, a hypodermic device that administers a dose of epinephrine, used for the emergency treatment of an acute allergic reaction.

LaRae said one of her four grandchildren had an EpiPen before Ron’s sting because of food allergies, and added that they all now have one.

“You need to carry it with you all the time,” she said. “I cannot stress how important it is.”

Hlavaty continues to reside at home in Mahoning Township where she’s lived since 1975, and added “I plan to stay there until my last breath.”

As she continues to grieve Ron’s loss, LaRae said the hardest part is that she never had the chance to say the proper goodbye to her husband.

“There was never closure, never any preparation,” she said. “My advice is to be alert, be prepared, and to live each day to its fullest.”