I was diagnosed with a peanut allergy when I was just 2 years old. One night, after eating a Drumstick ice cream cone topped with peanuts, my dad kissed me goodnight not realizing I was allergic. Almost immediately, I started sneezing and my eyelid swelled. My parents rushed me to the ER, but the doctor believed I had an eye infection and sent us home. Something didn’t sit right with my parents, so they followed up with my pediatrician, who ordered further testing. That’s when we discovered I had a severe peanut allergy.
Over the years, I visited many allergists until my family finally found one we trusted, someone willing to help take the next step in managing my allergy. At that time, oral desensitization wasn’t very common, but because of how sensitive I was to peanuts, my allergist recommended it. I've now been doing oral desensitization therapy for over 10 years. Every day, I take a small dose of peanut and rest for two hours to avoid raising my heart rate. It is not without risk, as I have had to use an EpiPen once during this journey. Managing my dose around sports and physical activity has been a challenge, but I’ve learned how to balance it. Out of all the sports I’ve played, golf is my favorite and it's part of what inspired me to start Tee Up for Food Allergies.