“Living with a severe allergy has taught me resilience, compassion, and the importance of preparation.”
For as long as I can remember, living with a life-threatening peanut allergy has defined how I interact with the world. Diagnosed before my 2nd birthday after an accidental exposure to peanut butter, I’ve never known a day when I didn’t have to be hyper-aware of my surroundings, what others are eating, what I’m touching, or even the air around me. I’m anaphylactic to peanuts not only through ingestion, but also by touch and airborne exposure. For me, vigilance isn’t just a habit. It’s survival.
My parents have always been my fiercest advocates. They worked with my daycare to ensure it was nut-free, and before I started kindergarten, they partnered with the school district to establish a nut-safe environment. Because I attend a public school in a high-poverty district where peanut butter is a dietary staple, creating a fully nut-free zone wasn’t possible. Despite safety protocols, I experienced multiple anaphylactic reactions from kindergarten through 8th grade. Each required an ambulance ride, emergency room care, and even rebound reactions the following day. In 2nd grade, I was granted a 504 plan to formally address my medical needs. Before that, I often chose to eat lunch alone in the hallway to minimize my chance of a reaction. This was definitely an isolating experience in my childhood.
But through every challenge, my parents didn’t just teach me how to survive, they taught me how to speak up, advocate for myself, and educate others. I’ve learned to ask difficult questions, evaluate my environment quickly, and communicate my needs clearly. I always carry two EpiPens, Benadryl, and antacid tablets, not out of fear, but out of necessity and responsibility. I can’t just join friends for dinner, attend sleepovers, or even go on a date without making sure my allergy is understood. That constant awareness has given me a maturity far beyond my years.
Still, my experience has given me more than caution. It’s given me empathy. I know what it feels like to be excluded, to have to advocate for basic safety, and to rely on others to understand and support me. This empathy led me to become a respite worker for a teenager with autism, where I’ve learned how important patience, flexibility, and compassion are in caring for others. I’ve also begun taking American Sign Language classes at our local community college, inspired by a desire to one day serve individuals with hearing impairments. These experiences have fueled my commitment to a future in medicine, where I plan to specialize in care for those with communication or sensory challenges.
Living with a severe allergy has taught me resilience, compassion, and the importance of preparation. It’s not the life I would have chosen, but it’s prepared me for the future I’m planning to build. I don’t see my allergy as a limitation. Instead, my allergy has taught me to see what others often miss, and to use my voice in ways that bring safety, inclusion, and hope to those who need it most.
- Nolen R.