[Applause] tell your story change the conversation
tell your story change the conversation
tell your story change the conversation organized by students TEDx youth at shc
organized by students TEDx youth at shc
organized by students TEDx youth at shc I have allergies to a variety of things
I have allergies to a variety of things
I have allergies to a variety of things especially caches and pistachios but I
especially caches and pistachios but I
especially caches and pistachios but I love food so I don’t stop let my
love food so I don’t stop let my
love food so I don’t stop let my allergies stop me from eating what I
allergies stop me from eating what I
allergies stop me from eating what I want to so in March for dinner when I
want to so in March for dinner when I
want to so in March for dinner when I was eating green papaya salad two years
was eating green papaya salad two years
was eating green papaya salad two years ago nothing was quite unusual that is
ago nothing was quite unusual that is
ago nothing was quite unusual that is until my mouth started swelling up and
until my mouth started swelling up and
until my mouth started swelling up and my stomach the answer hurt when I
my stomach the answer hurt when I
my stomach the answer hurt when I started throwing up I knew I was
started throwing up I knew I was
started throwing up I knew I was suffering an allergic reaction and had
suffering an allergic reaction and had
suffering an allergic reaction and had yet another allergen to add to my list
yet another allergen to add to my list
yet another allergen to add to my list green papaya their routine began and out
green papaya their routine began and out
green papaya their routine began and out came the tums the benadryl the sprite
came the tums the benadryl the sprite
came the tums the benadryl the sprite the herbal remedies anything for relief
the herbal remedies anything for relief
the herbal remedies anything for relief the papaya continued to ravage my system
the papaya continued to ravage my system
the papaya continued to ravage my system and did not dissipate 14 hours later
and did not dissipate 14 hours later
and did not dissipate 14 hours later after giving my speech for the school
after giving my speech for the school
after giving my speech for the school rhetoric competition I flew offstage to
rhetoric competition I flew offstage to
rhetoric competition I flew offstage to the bathroom in the back of the
the bathroom in the back of the
the bathroom in the back of the auditorium where I threw up yet again
auditorium where I threw up yet again
auditorium where I threw up yet again does this sound familiar how many of you
does this sound familiar how many of you
does this sound familiar how many of you have broken out into hives or budding it
have broken out into hives or budding it
have broken out into hives or budding it unable to breathe or wracked with leaky
unable to breathe or wracked with leaky
unable to breathe or wracked with leaky eyes and a runny nose raise your hand if
eyes and a runny nose raise your hand if
eyes and a runny nose raise your hand if you have suffered an allergic reaction
you have suffered an allergic reaction
you have suffered an allergic reaction raise your hand if you know someone who
raise your hand if you know someone who
raise your hand if you know someone who has suffered an allergic reaction the
has suffered an allergic reaction the
has suffered an allergic reaction the award I won that day for my speech might
award I won that day for my speech might
award I won that day for my speech might be the tangible highlight but my
be the tangible highlight but my
be the tangible highlight but my allergic reaction is seared far deeper
allergic reaction is seared far deeper
allergic reaction is seared far deeper into my minds I am currently allergic to
into my minds I am currently allergic to
into my minds I am currently allergic to cashews pistachios papayas green and
cashews pistachios papayas green and
cashews pistachios papayas green and regular avocados and cats my mom says I
regular avocados and cats my mom says I
regular avocados and cats my mom says I had my first reaction at six months old
had my first reaction at six months old
had my first reaction at six months old after eating an Indian dessert that had
after eating an Indian dessert that had
after eating an Indian dessert that had cashews in it after which I proceeded to
cashews in it after which I proceeded to
cashews in it after which I proceeded to throw up on my dad in a moving car I’m
throw up on my dad in a moving car I’m
throw up on my dad in a moving car I’m sure they have fond memories of the
sure they have fond memories of the
sure they have fond memories of the experience
experience
experience but nothing really has changed since
but nothing really has changed since
but nothing really has changed since then all this is just continues and
then all this is just continues and
then all this is just continues and coupling all my incessant allergic
coupling all my incessant allergic
coupling all my incessant allergic reactions with the injuries have had
reactions with the injuries have had
reactions with the injuries have had from soccer over the years including a
from soccer over the years including a
from soccer over the years including a concussion and a broken wrist and toe in
concussion and a broken wrist and toe in
concussion and a broken wrist and toe in the past few years actually I’ve become
the past few years actually I’ve become
the past few years actually I’ve become a casual doctor’s office expert I’ve
a casual doctor’s office expert I’ve
a casual doctor’s office expert I’ve taken all this and learned from it but
taken all this and learned from it but
taken all this and learned from it but as I’ve met people through my life I
as I’ve met people through my life I
as I’ve met people through my life I realized that most people with allergies
realized that most people with allergies
realized that most people with allergies don’t truly understand what’s going on
don’t truly understand what’s going on
don’t truly understand what’s going on in their body when they have a reaction
in their body when they have a reaction
in their body when they have a reaction they just go through the motions of
they just go through the motions of
they just go through the motions of prevention and medication fundamentally
prevention and medication fundamentally
prevention and medication fundamentally to stay alive and most people without
to stay alive and most people without
to stay alive and most people without allergies don’t quite comprehend what
allergies don’t quite comprehend what
allergies don’t quite comprehend what they are either but that’s a little more
they are either but that’s a little more
they are either but that’s a little more understandable but this knowledge is
understandable but this knowledge is
understandable but this knowledge is increasingly vital according to a 2013
increasingly vital according to a 2013
increasingly vital according to a 2013 CDC study in America 15 million people
CDC study in America 15 million people
CDC study in America 15 million people have food allergies children’s allergies
have food allergies children’s allergies
have food allergies children’s allergies have increased by 50% from 1997 to 2011
have increased by 50% from 1997 to 2011
have increased by 50% from 1997 to 2011 and get this allergy is over all
and get this allergy is over all
and get this allergy is over all including medication prevention and
including medication prevention and
including medication prevention and diagnosis cost 25 billion dollars
diagnosis cost 25 billion dollars
diagnosis cost 25 billion dollars annually this is only in America so two
annually this is only in America so two
annually this is only in America so two years ago I decided to learn everything
years ago I decided to learn everything
years ago I decided to learn everything I possibly could about allergies I was
I possibly could about allergies I was
I possibly could about allergies I was so tired of hearing people think oh but
so tired of hearing people think oh but
so tired of hearing people think oh but they’re just in your head right or oh
they’re just in your head right or oh
they’re just in your head right or oh you know you only have allergies because
you know you only have allergies because
you know you only have allergies because you live in a first world country like
you live in a first world country like
you live in a first world country like America while I was keeled over with the
America while I was keeled over with the
America while I was keeled over with the stomachache or better yet throwing up at
stomachache or better yet throwing up at
stomachache or better yet throwing up at the same time so I spent countless hours
the same time so I spent countless hours
the same time so I spent countless hours and weeks reading over 200 pubmed
and weeks reading over 200 pubmed
and weeks reading over 200 pubmed articles and conducting to science fair
articles and conducting to science fair
articles and conducting to science fair experiments one on the molecular
experiments one on the molecular
experiments one on the molecular mechanisms of allergic reactions and
mechanisms of allergic reactions and
mechanisms of allergic reactions and another one later invent and best
another one later invent and best
another one later invent and best getting the genetic influences and I
getting the genetic influences and I
getting the genetic influences and I would start talking animatedly to anyone
would start talking animatedly to anyone
would start talking animatedly to anyone who would listen to me if they even
who would listen to me if they even
who would listen to me if they even mentioned allergies so here’s a crash
mentioned allergies so here’s a crash
mentioned allergies so here’s a crash course for you we have an adaptive
course for you we have an adaptive
course for you we have an adaptive immune system it changes based on what
immune system it changes based on what
immune system it changes based on what it encounters so for me when I was first
it encounters so for me when I was first
it encounters so for me when I was first exposed to cashews my body viewed them
exposed to cashews my body viewed them
exposed to cashews my body viewed them as a bad foreign invader why could be a
as a bad foreign invader why could be a
as a bad foreign invader why could be a genetic environmental a combination
genetic environmental a combination
genetic environmental a combination scientists are still trying to figure
scientists are still trying to figure
scientists are still trying to figure that out so then my body produced immune
that out so then my body produced immune
that out so then my body produced immune cells that then prettiest immunoglobulin
cells that then prettiest immunoglobulin
cells that then prettiest immunoglobulin E or IgE antibodies which are pretty
E or IgE antibodies which are pretty
E or IgE antibodies which are pretty much good guy fighter proteins and then
much good guy fighter proteins and then
much good guy fighter proteins and then these IgE molecules would go hang out in
these IgE molecules would go hang out in
these IgE molecules would go hang out in the meantime on another immune cell and
the meantime on another immune cell and
the meantime on another immune cell and finally when I was exposed to khakis
finally when I was exposed to khakis
finally when I was exposed to khakis again this entire process repeated after
again this entire process repeated after
again this entire process repeated after which the Cascia molecules would go
which the Cascia molecules would go
which the Cascia molecules would go attach themselves to those IgE molecules
attach themselves to those IgE molecules
attach themselves to those IgE molecules which then would trigger the immune cell
which then would trigger the immune cell
which then would trigger the immune cell to really use a bunch of chemicals
to really use a bunch of chemicals
to really use a bunch of chemicals called histamines histamines caused the
called histamines histamines caused the
called histamines histamines caused the inflammation that we so commonly
inflammation that we so commonly
inflammation that we so commonly associate with allergic reactions
associate with allergic reactions
associate with allergic reactions we use antihistamines like claritin and
we use antihistamines like claritin and
we use antihistamines like claritin and benadryl to try to calm the body down
benadryl to try to calm the body down
benadryl to try to calm the body down but the immune system is basically just
but the immune system is basically just
but the immune system is basically just being spiteful and throwing a temper
being spiteful and throwing a temper
being spiteful and throwing a temper tantrum for no apparent reason
tantrum for no apparent reason
tantrum for no apparent reason it’s a hissy fit upgraded to a histamine
it’s a hissy fit upgraded to a histamine
it’s a hissy fit upgraded to a histamine fit and there is a huge difference
fit and there is a huge difference
fit and there is a huge difference between allergies and intolerance to
between allergies and intolerance to
between allergies and intolerance to things like lactose which is digestive
things like lactose which is digestive
things like lactose which is digestive irritation and the choice of being vegan
irritation and the choice of being vegan
irritation and the choice of being vegan or vegetarian okay why does this matter
or vegetarian okay why does this matter
or vegetarian okay why does this matter it’s not like knowing what happens on a
it’s not like knowing what happens on a
it’s not like knowing what happens on a molecular level truly makes a difference
molecular level truly makes a difference
molecular level truly makes a difference to the average person because we can’t
to the average person because we can’t
to the average person because we can’t quite control it believe me I’ve tried
quite control it believe me I’ve tried
quite control it believe me I’ve tried but knowledge is power more importantly
but knowledge is power more importantly
but knowledge is power more importantly up
up
up knowledge is power understanding
knowledge is power understanding
knowledge is power understanding allergies gives us a clear target for
allergies gives us a clear target for
allergies gives us a clear target for what we’re trying to prevent and cure
what we’re trying to prevent and cure
what we’re trying to prevent and cure there are so many crazy avenues that are
there are so many crazy avenues that are
there are so many crazy avenues that are being explored especially in our own
being explored especially in our own
being explored especially in our own backyard at various universities and
backyard at various universities and
backyard at various universities and labs including DNA methylation
labs including DNA methylation
labs including DNA methylation immunotherapy and gene therapy which are
immunotherapy and gene therapy which are
immunotherapy and gene therapy which are all as complicated as they sound cool
all as complicated as they sound cool
all as complicated as they sound cool it’s really hard to figure out what to
it’s really hard to figure out what to
it’s really hard to figure out what to do for people with allergies if they
do for people with allergies if they
do for people with allergies if they aren’t actively involved and aware of
aren’t actively involved and aware of
aren’t actively involved and aware of what they want or need besides all that
what they want or need besides all that
what they want or need besides all that having first-hand experience makes us
having first-hand experience makes us
having first-hand experience makes us really good candidates to come up with
really good candidates to come up with
really good candidates to come up with ideas ourselves but we don’t really see
ideas ourselves but we don’t really see
ideas ourselves but we don’t really see what should be an instinctive desire
what should be an instinctive desire
what should be an instinctive desire from people to understand their
from people to understand their
from people to understand their allergies this might be because
allergies this might be because
allergies this might be because allergies don’t quite seem like an
allergies don’t quite seem like an
allergies don’t quite seem like an actual disease especially compared to
actual disease especially compared to
actual disease especially compared to something like cancer because allergic
something like cancer because allergic
something like cancer because allergic symptoms only manifest sometimes when
symptoms only manifest sometimes when
symptoms only manifest sometimes when exposed to the allergen so we
exposed to the allergen so we
exposed to the allergen so we intelligently compartmentalize our
intelligently compartmentalize our
intelligently compartmentalize our allergies if people with cancer can lead
allergies if people with cancer can lead
allergies if people with cancer can lead seemingly normal lives why can’t we this
seemingly normal lives why can’t we this
seemingly normal lives why can’t we this mindset kind of works I’m guilty of it
mindset kind of works I’m guilty of it
mindset kind of works I’m guilty of it for sure but if people with allergies
for sure but if people with allergies
for sure but if people with allergies don’t take them seriously how can we
don’t take them seriously how can we
don’t take them seriously how can we expect others to here’s an example the
expect others to here’s an example the
expect others to here’s an example the EpiPen is the most common drug for
EpiPen is the most common drug for
EpiPen is the most common drug for people with allergies
people with allergies
people with allergies it is almost only manufactured by Mylon
it is almost only manufactured by Mylon
it is almost only manufactured by Mylon pharmaceuticals and is an auto injector
pharmaceuticals and is an auto injector
pharmaceuticals and is an auto injector which sends epinephrine or a form of
which sends epinephrine or a form of
which sends epinephrine or a form of adrenaline through one’s body to
adrenaline through one’s body to
adrenaline through one’s body to expedite an allergic reaction these
expedite an allergic reaction these
expedite an allergic reaction these EpiPens come in two packs
EpiPens come in two packs
EpiPens come in two packs cost close to $700 for two and expire in
cost close to $700 for two and expire in
cost close to $700 for two and expire in one year this is taking into account
one year this is taking into account
one year this is taking into account what health insurance can help you with
what health insurance can help you with
what health insurance can help you with now since Milan has a virtual monopoly
now since Milan has a virtual monopoly
now since Milan has a virtual monopoly over this highly deregulated sector
over this highly deregulated sector
over this highly deregulated sector EpiPen prices have skyrocketed over the
EpiPen prices have skyrocketed over the
EpiPen prices have skyrocketed over the pass
pass
pass couple years I’m talking a 600% increase
couple years I’m talking a 600% increase
couple years I’m talking a 600% increase if not more and it’s still going this
if not more and it’s still going this
if not more and it’s still going this situation would be different if people
situation would be different if people
situation would be different if people were fundamentally aware of how serious
were fundamentally aware of how serious
were fundamentally aware of how serious allergies are they wouldn’t let
allergies are they wouldn’t let
allergies are they wouldn’t let themselves or their peers be taken
themselves or their peers be taken
themselves or their peers be taken advantage of to this extent besides all
advantage of to this extent besides all
advantage of to this extent besides all of that it is awful to prioritize
of that it is awful to prioritize
of that it is awful to prioritize personal wealth and corporate greed over
personal wealth and corporate greed over
personal wealth and corporate greed over the health and even the mortality of
the health and even the mortality of
the health and even the mortality of others so this allergy is prospective
others so this allergy is prospective
others so this allergy is prospective problem has two main components number
problem has two main components number
problem has two main components number one most people know on a high level
one most people know on a high level
one most people know on a high level what allergies are but don’t truly
what allergies are but don’t truly
what allergies are but don’t truly understand them and therefore don’t take
understand them and therefore don’t take
understand them and therefore don’t take them as seriously as they should
them as seriously as they should
them as seriously as they should number two people with allergies do this
number two people with allergies do this
number two people with allergies do this too partially because they believe other
too partially because they believe other
too partially because they believe other people won’t quite take them seriously
people won’t quite take them seriously
people won’t quite take them seriously the poet Maya Angelou once said when you
the poet Maya Angelou once said when you
the poet Maya Angelou once said when you know better you do better so what if we
know better you do better so what if we
know better you do better so what if we embrace and accept our allergies as a
embrace and accept our allergies as a
embrace and accept our allergies as a new normal the change that will be
new normal the change that will be
new normal the change that will be brought about by the self-advocacy and
brought about by the self-advocacy and
brought about by the self-advocacy and self-acceptance is unimaginable the
self-acceptance is unimaginable the
self-acceptance is unimaginable the issue of not completely recognizing all
issue of not completely recognizing all
issue of not completely recognizing all the problems that plagued us on a daily
the problems that plagued us on a daily
the problems that plagued us on a daily basis extends beyond allergies and our
basis extends beyond allergies and our
basis extends beyond allergies and our 21st century worlds we are so advanced
21st century worlds we are so advanced
21st century worlds we are so advanced with all of our technology and past
with all of our technology and past
with all of our technology and past progress that there is a constant
progress that there is a constant
progress that there is a constant pursuit of perfection in every facet of
pursuit of perfection in every facet of
pursuit of perfection in every facet of daily life this is something I strive
daily life this is something I strive
daily life this is something I strive towards and see my classmates do and my
towards and see my classmates do and my
towards and see my classmates do and my soccer teammates do it’s everywhere in
soccer teammates do it’s everywhere in
soccer teammates do it’s everywhere in sports and arts in the classroom and
sports and arts in the classroom and
sports and arts in the classroom and even in the workplace so in today’s
even in the workplace so in today’s
even in the workplace so in today’s society we’re almost everything we do is
society we’re almost everything we do is
society we’re almost everything we do is trying to overcome human weakness we can
trying to overcome human weakness we can
trying to overcome human weakness we can embrace and spread awareness about what
embrace and spread awareness about what
embrace and spread awareness about what affects us and why to open up countless
affects us and why to open up countless
affects us and why to open up countless opportunities for progress emotionally
opportunities for progress emotionally
opportunities for progress emotionally in
in
in actually physically socially and more we
actually physically socially and more we
actually physically socially and more we can’t quite solve global issues by
can’t quite solve global issues by
can’t quite solve global issues by ignoring them so the same goes for
ignoring them so the same goes for
ignoring them so the same goes for seemingly less important problems like
seemingly less important problems like
seemingly less important problems like allergies that we typically sweep under
allergies that we typically sweep under
allergies that we typically sweep under the rug it all comes down to respect for
the rug it all comes down to respect for
the rug it all comes down to respect for others and ourselves and because of that
others and ourselves and because of that
others and ourselves and because of that I am proud to have allergies they make
I am proud to have allergies they make
I am proud to have allergies they make me human all of the chips and flaws and
me human all of the chips and flaws and
me human all of the chips and flaws and obstacles that we face along the road of
obstacles that we face along the road of
obstacles that we face along the road of life make us all human and by embracing
life make us all human and by embracing
life make us all human and by embracing and respecting all of these issues we
and respecting all of these issues we
and respecting all of these issues we learn how to collaborate to be curious
learn how to collaborate to be curious
learn how to collaborate to be curious to keep searching for solutions and to
to keep searching for solutions and to
to keep searching for solutions and to pass our knowledge on all fundamental
pass our knowledge on all fundamental
pass our knowledge on all fundamental aspects of human nature so I watch what
aspects of human nature so I watch what
aspects of human nature so I watch what I eat
I eat
I eat skipping a few nuts here and there and I
skipping a few nuts here and there and I
skipping a few nuts here and there and I have thrown up far more than I ever
have thrown up far more than I ever
have thrown up far more than I ever would have liked to but I’ve learned to
would have liked to but I’ve learned to
would have liked to but I’ve learned to accept this part of me and gotten so
accept this part of me and gotten so
accept this part of me and gotten so much out of it this is not a limitation
much out of it this is not a limitation
much out of it this is not a limitation that defines me I have broken the
that defines me I have broken the
that defines me I have broken the boundary that it was by redefining it to
boundary that it was by redefining it to
boundary that it was by redefining it to help me learn to help me grow and to
help me learn to help me grow and to
help me learn to help me grow and to become a better person so I hope you too
become a better person so I hope you too
become a better person so I hope you too can crack your nut shells and truly
can crack your nut shells and truly
can crack your nut shells and truly appreciate what’s inside thank you
”
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