“Allergies have shaped my life negatively and positively!”
For as long as I can remember I’ve had food allergies. In the first year of my life, I had zero allergies. I ate a regular cupcake for my first birthday. I have pictures to prove it. Shortly after this, I developed about 6 food allergies in 2 years. By age 4, doctor’s diagnosed me with being allergic to wheat, eggs, milk, soy, shellfish and nuts. I was also diagnosed with asthma, eczema and EE (Eosinophilic esophagitis). There is no truly explained reason why I developed food allergies. Food allergies have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
It gets tiring telling people I can’t eat this or that when they offer it. Even when I explain the allergies, they don’t seem to understand. Because of this I often feel left out. I’ve always wanted to experience what authentic pizza, hamburgers, and ice cream taste like. These allergies have come with a financial burden as well. These include the extra expenses of non-dairy and gluten options. For example, a regular loaf of bread is on average $2.50 in comparison to a gluten free loaf of bread priced at $5 or higher. I have incurred frequent hospital bills from acid reflux, specialized medication and creams, emergency room visits from allergic reactions and numerous scopes to check the status of the EE. That’s why I need to monitor what I eat, and touch and I always carry an Epipen. If I don’t know exactly what’s in the product for my own safety, I don’t eat it. It is truly a matter of life and death.
In contrast, food allergies are somewhat positive. As a basketball player, it’s my best interest to eat healthy. These allergies naturally force me to eat healthier options, so it gives me fuel and doesn’t weigh me down with unnecessary processed foods. Wheat is the number one item in 95% of all processed foods. According to doctors, processed foods are the unhealthiest foods. This has caused me to be more diligent in planning meals since I just can go by the local McDonald’s and pick up a value meal.
My mom has been a major part of my life and managing these allergies. She learned to make healthier gluten, dairy, and egg-free foods for me. She has frequently brought these options to places and events where we knew there were going to be non-allergy-friendly options being served. This was so I could eat the same thing that everyone else were eating. Another example is my preschool teacher. She bought me gluten-free bread and made allergy-friendly items for me to eat during snack time. I’ll never forget things like that. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to adapt and not let allergies define my success or my future. My parents have taught me not to look at allergies as making me different but making me wiser.
- Anonymous