Brent Pope
Brent Pope, Ex New Zealand rugby player, RTE rugby pundit and children's book author (including the 3 little pigs and the wheezing wolf for the Asthma Society)
"I was a very sickly child, born with double pneumonia and bronchitis, so my early years where fraught with breathing problems, asthma and severe whooping cough. My mother always said "I was destined to do something special with my life because I was so ill" When I was young I can vividly remember spending days off school with an asthma consultant in the Cashmere Hills in Christchurch, going through my breathing drills. Even though I suffered early on, I was determined to become a sports star and I worked harder than the next person simply because I had to. Luckily I grew out of asthma in my teens, but I had a relapse a few years ago, but with my inhaler that soon disappeared as well. The message from everybody on this website is the same that just because you have asthma is no reason for you not to pursue your dreams; in fact use it as a driving force, a motivator to get you where you want to be. The determination just to be normal and get on with life will help you in whatever field or direction you want to take. My only advice is to know your body, know what factors trigger you, be diligent with your medication even when it is a hassle and listen to the professionals, then as the man in the NIKE advertisement said "Just do it".
