Share with Your Kids: “I survived a severe allergic reaction. The fear that followed was worse”

For Lucille Friesen, a 17-year-old living on Anvil Island, BC, a single bite of a cookie at the age of nine completely redefined her life. Diagnosed with a life-threatening peanut allergy at age two, Lucille had spent her early childhood feeling “normal” because her parents managed her safety. However, during a meeting in Vancouver, her family was mistakenly told a cookie was nut-free. After just one bite, her lips blistered and her body went into anaphylaxis, requiring an immediate auto-injector administration and a nine-hour hospital stay.

Physical recovery from the reaction was swift, but the psychological aftermath was far grueling. Lucille found herself paralyzed by a new, intense fear that the world was no longer safe. She refused to eat even an apple, fearing contamination, and viewed the clothes she wore during the incident as “contaminated.” As she explains, “Leaving the house was a big struggle for me. The world no longer felt safe.”

This anxiety extended into her social life, making once-fun events, like birthday parties, feel like minefields. Lucille became obsessed with the risk of cross-contamination, comparing the invisible presence of allergens to glitter that clings to everything it touches. She noted that for those with severe allergies, “putting nuts or soy around me is like waving a loaded gun, safety off, with bullets that will only harm me.”

After years in a state of “darkness,” Lucille, at 11, joined Allergy Pals, an online mentorship program. Connecting with others who shared her experiences helped her realize she wasn’t alone. The community gave her the tools to manage both her physical safety and her mental health, teaching her to read labels and stand up for herself in high-risk environments, such as airplanes.

The most significant step in her recovery was a personal shift in mindset. Lucille decided she would no longer let her anxiety define her. “I finally realized that I was bigger than my fear and that I had the power to overcome it,” she writes. By focusing on excitement rather than fear and leaning on her support system, she began to reclaim activities she once loved, such as snowboarding and going to the gym.

Today, Lucille has come full circle, becoming a mentor who helps the next generation of children navigate the same fears she once faced. She views her allergies not just as a burden but as a platform to raise awareness. She emphasizes that allergies are not a mere dietary preference but a matter of life and death, stating, “I believe there’s a reason I have these allergies: to spread awareness about them and to help others like me. Because we deserve to be seen.”

Reflecting on her journey, Lucille acknowledges that although she still feels the caution born of that traumatic day, she is no longer its prisoner. The experience that once felt like a tragedy has become a source of resilience. As she concludes, “I used to wish I had never eaten that cookie. Now I know it made me stronger.”