Family of Maryland mum Hanna Scigala donate organs after she dies from peanut allergy

Mother-of-three Hanna Scigala was known for her kind spirit before a severe reaction to peanuts took her life. Her spirit remains after her family made the only decision they knew they could.

Hanna Scigala, who died after suffering an allergic reaction to peanuts. Picture: Supplied

It was Hanna Scigala’s selfless and kind spirit which made the decision for her heartbroken family to have the mother-of-three pass on one final gift following her sudden death from a severe allergic reaction to peanuts.

Hanna, 31, suffered severe anaphylaxis while at her Maryland home with her young children on January 4 and died in hospital three days later.

Her devastated mother Chris, who found her daughter collapsed on the floor after Ms Scigala’s second eldest boy Leo, aged just nine, text messaged his uncle to say “Mum’s dying”, sat down with doctors and knew her girl would have wanted to be an organ donor.

“When she was alive she was the most kind-hearted person and we all knew she would want to help others in any way,’’ Ms Scigala’s sister, Stephanie, said.

“Mum made the only decision she could make. And it does give us a tiny bit of comfort knowing that she is still out there helping others.’’

Hanna Scigala with her children Leo, Madden and Peyton. Picture: Supplied

Hanna Scigala had lived her life with the knowledge that peanuts could kill her.

Her family knew not to have any peanuts in their house at all – a kiss on the cheek after a peanut butter sandwich could be enough to cause Hanna harm.

And it remains unclear how Hanna came into contact with peanuts while she was at home on that Tuesday night.

What is known is that she recognised she was suffering the severe reaction and ran downstairs to get an EpiPen from her car.

But the Epipen was empty.

Hanna also rang an ambulance before her airways swelled up and she collapsed.

Young Leo, at home with older brother Madden, 12, and sister Peyton, aged just three, sent the harrowing message to Hanna’s brother Lleyton.

“Mum got there, found Hanna collapsed and the neighbours came in to perform CPR,’’ Stephanie said.

“She was rushed to hospital but her airways were blocking oxygen getting to her brain.’’

Within two days, her family had to make the heartbreaking decision.

By Friday, Stephanie and other relatives had time to return to Newcastle and say their goodbyes, along with the children, before the life-support machines were turned off.

“You hear the health practitioners talk about the worst-case scenarios with anaphylaxis and unfortunately that happened to my sister,’’ Stephanie said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Hanna Scigala's children Madden, Leo and Peyton

“She has suffered some quite severe reactions over the years but this was just catastrophic.

“She was very free-spirited, had an amazing sense of humour, was so funny and you couldn’t take her seriously, she was strong-willed and quite the inspiration really.

“She had just started her own little cleaning business and her clients have told us they had already thought of her as more of a friend, that was how kind she was.

“And she was such a dedicated mother, a super funny and super radiant person to be around.’’

Hanna’s parents, Luke and Chris, will now raise two of the children full-time and a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the kids as they grow.

“Dad is retired and mum is part-time and knowing the children are not yet even teenagers, everything will help them,’’ Stephanie said.

“It is just making sure that they are able to be looked after properly.‘’