My severe allergies dominated my childhood, but immunization shots gave me a new life. Now, I'm a proud cat owner.

The author had severe allergies as a kid.

Courtesy of Teddy Rainville

• I spent most of my childhood sick at home because of my severe allergies.
• In college, I began a five-year process of getting immunization shots.
• I progressed so much that I was able to get a cat I otherwise wouldn't have been able to be around.

Environmental allergies affected me year-round throughout my childhood. Animals, plants, dust, pollen — all of these things would make me sick to the point of barely breathing.