Michael Brown went into anaphylactic shock after the sting. He had never needed an EpiPen and did not have one with him. He died on Oct. 15, 2023, his wife said.

“[It] completely came out of the blue,” Shai Brown said. “We can’t change what happened to my husband, but we can try to save others from having the same tragedy happen in their families.”

She has since advocated on Beacon Hill for legislation that would allow businesses and public venues to obtain EpiPens directly from wholesalers and administer them in emergencies, with liability protections. State Rep. Thomas Moakley said the proposal could apply to places such as golf courses, restaurants and sports arenas.

The Massachusetts House approved the bill unanimously earlier this year. The Senate has not yet taken it up. State Sen. Julian Cyr, who represents the Cape and Islands, said lawmakers are working to advance it before the legislative session ends.

The push comes amid growing concern about alpha-gal syndrome on Martha’s Vineyard. The tick-borne condition can cause a serious allergic reaction to red meat, and people may not know they have it before a sudden reaction. “Often, someone who has alpha-gal, you don’t know you have it, and onset can be very sudden and dramatic, particularly after consuming red meat,” Cyr said.

After Michael’s death, Shai Brown’s two sons tested negative for wasp venom allergy, but she obtained EpiPen prescriptions for both as a precaution. She said she plans to continue urging senators to pass the measure, asking lawmakers to “see this through.”