I'd like to welcome my sister's good friend, Shayna Friedman, to Samantha B this week! Hailing from my home town, Shayna comes to us with a unique perspective on having allergies in high school. She is her own advocate, and is constantly aware of her surroundings so as to keep herself safe from allergens. I want to thank Shayna for sharing her story, and I hope everyone can learn from her advice!
SB: Where are you from, how old are you, and what are you allergic to?:
Shayna: I'm from Yardley, Pennsylvania and I am 17 years old. I'm allergic to peanuts.
SB: What is your biggest fear when dealing with the allergy?:
Shayna: My biggest fear with this allergy is going out to eat at places I have never been to before because I worry if things are cooked in peanut oil.
SB: How does the allergy affect you on a daily basis?:
Shayna: This allergy effects me on a daily basis because almost everything I eat I have to check the ingredients to see if it says contains peanuts or may contain peanuts, and a lot of candy and other foods say may contain peanuts.
SB: Have you ever had a reaction?:
Shayna: Yes I've had many reactions.
SB: What has having an allergy taught you about yourself?:
Shayna: Having an allergy has taught me that I'm very cautious with everything I do. I always have to be careful with what I eat and that has rubbed off on me being careful about other things I do.
SB: What advice can you give to anyone who is dealing with an allergy?:
Shayna: I would tell people dealing with an allergy to always be cautious when you go to new places and make sure ahead of time that you will be safe going there. Also, always carry your Epi-Pen with you or any other allergy medication just in case.
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