George, you need to research whether or not it is possible to 'grow out' of asthma. If it isn't, then it wasn't - if you take my meaning. Up to the age of about 8 I had breathing difficulties (wheezing, tight chest and so on) which were diagnosed as asthma but subsequently were found to be caused by an allergy. This problem was fixed by a course of (de-sensitising?) injections. The medical people had no problems with this backround when I joined as a pilot in 1963.
You probably realise by now that officialdom finds it easier to say "no" than to expend time and effort to see if a "yes" is possible. So the effort has got to come from you. Start by asking your GP to refer you to a specialist who not only has expertise in the field, but also has some clout in aviation medical circles. When you're sure of your facts and (hopefully) have a clean bill of health, apply again .... and this time don't take no for an answer.
Good luck
