Growing up, Ethan Lindenberger was allowed to do a lot of things kids his age was supposed to do—except one thing: Get vaccinated.

His mother, Jill Wheeler, is anti-vaxx meaning she’s very against vaccinations, thinking that they can lead to autism and brain damage, so it absolutely forbade him from ever getting properly protected from a number of diseases.

As his 18th birthday approached, Ethan realized that he only wanted one thing to celebrate: Top stay on top of his health. So he celebrated finally being old enough to legally make the decision himself by getting vaccinated against a bunch of diseases such as hepatitis, measles, rubella, and mumps.

Ethan sought advice from Reddit about his thoughts on getting vaccinated against his mother’s will once he turned 18.

“My parents think vaccines are some kind of government scheme. It’s stupid and I’ve had countless arguments over the topic. But, because of their beliefs I’ve never been vaccinated for anything, god knows how I’m still alive,” he wrote.

“But, I’m a senior in high school now with a car, a license, and money of my own. I’d assume that I can get them on my own, but I’ve just never had a conversation with anyone about the subject,” he continued, asking for any advice on where to go that won’t charge him an arm and a leg.

Ethan did finally go through the vaccines, and doesn’t regret a second of it. How did Mom take it though?

“She looked at it as me getting vaccines as a gesture of rebellion and not for my own sake and the sake of people around me,” he said. He added that he knows his mother loves him, but they just don’t see eye to eye here.

What do you think of the way Ethan celebrated his birthday? What would you have done in his position?