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3. Kids with severe allergies miss out on simple social opportunities. A child with a fatal peanut allergy, for example, may not be able to attend birthday parties, or even a regular school. Or consider a child with a grass allergy who can never join the other kids on an outside field to play sports. Missing out on the simple elements of a childhood can be a heart-wrenching situation for the families who are affected.

4. The lives of parents of kids with allergies are also altered. Ever have to use an EpiPen on your child to ease their breathing? Hopefully not. But because of the seriousness of some allergies, many parents with kids with fatal allergies often will not let their normal routine be broken. I can’t remember the last time Melinda came with us on one of our girls’ trips. We miss her but understand and try to be supportive in word and deed.

5. Siblings of kids with allergies may also be affected. Not only is Collin unable to eat store-bought cake, but neither can his sister. The sacrifices she makes for her brother are considerable because she can’t afford to bring the allergen home, which can easily be transferred to her brother through a towel or even a casual high five.

Deborah Song is the founder of travelbyword.com, a cruelty-free company committed to creating travel accessories that help travelers journey with ease, efficiency and elegance. She loves to travel the globe in pursuit of good food, wider life perspectives and great adventure stories with her kids. Deborah is a Canadian-born, mompreneur and Los Angeles-based writer, who obtained her master’s in journalism from New York University. You can find her travel stories at www.blog/travelbyword.com.