Latest News
- Holiday Tips & Daily Irish Pollen Forecast Supported by Dyson
- World Asthma Day 2013 - Fighting asthma with every breath
- Nationwide Poll - Ban on Smoky Coal favoured by 85%
- Boots Pharmacy Let’s Breathe Easy Campaign Launch
Latest Events
- World Asthma Day Mobile Asthma Clinics
- Strawberry Half Marathon 2013 Announces the Asthma Society of Ireland as Charity Partner
- Free Asthma Clinic in Monaghan on 23rd of March 2013
Past News
“Your Life With Asthma” Competition Winner Announced
The Asthma Society of Ireland would like to thank all those who entered our "Your Life With Asthma" competition to win a Nintendo Wii.
The entries into this competition were of such a high calibre, it was very difficult to choose a winner. The winner finally chosen was an entry from Michelle Quinn, whose sister and nephews suffer from asthma.
Michelle's entry to our Your Life With Asthma" competition described how despite not suffering from asthma personally, her life has been profoundly affected by the condition. One of her earliest memories was when she was five and her older sister Donna had an asthma attack, which was a terrifying experience for her whole family.
Michelle's sister Donna, has two sons now , Hayden and Aaron, pictured on the right, who both suffer with asthma. Michelle eloquently and in a most heartfelt way described in her entry how her nephews' lives are affected by having asthma, and how as a parent or in Michelle's case, an Aunt of a child with asthma, the challenges involved in controlling the condition.
"Your Life With Asthma" Competition Winner - Michelle Quinn's Story
I don’t have asthma but some members of my family do.
My first memory of asthma in my family was when I was about 5 years old and my sister Donna, a year older, had an asthma attack, I remember she couldn’t breathe and she was going purple then blue and the whole house was in a panic, an ambulance came, she had treatment in the hospital and was then allowed home. Ever since then, asthma has played a big part in my whole family’s life.
My sister Donna still has asthma, she is 31 years old. My mum has asthma, she got it when she was in her 30s and she now in her mid 50’s. Mum has a terrible time breathing but with the help of her inhalers she has it under control. Its gas how over the years our perspectives on things change though, from the panic of when Donna had her first attack to now its 2nd nature to us all and we deal with it calmly and know what to do.
Donna now has 2 young boys of her own, Aaron is almost 7 years old and Hayden is almost 4 years old. Aaron was born with the most chronic eczema I have ever seen, his poor little face was constantly red and raw looking, sometimes it even bled, and also at his joints like his wrists and the back of his knees, it was horrible to see him go through so much, the doctors told us it goes hand in hand with asthma and most likely he would suffer with asthma just like his mum and grandmother, and the doc was right! Poor Aaron has had such bad luck with his health since the day he was born, every autumn he gets really chesty and has to be put on steroids, this time of year with the cold air etc is really bad for him and instead of playing outdoors with his little brother and his pals in the snow he has to stay in and watch them from the window to avoid having to go to hospital again, it’s heartbreaking, I just hope that unlike his mammy he grows out of the asthma and will be able to take part in sports etc like any other 7 year old child. He loves football so much and is the biggest Liverpool fan I have ever known (except me and my hubby) and I’d say it’s horrible for him to know he might not have a career in football or even just have a playful kick about with his pals.
And to top it all off, his younger brother Hayden got a chest infection a few weeks ago and while in hospital was diagnosed with asthma too, not as severe as Aaron thank god but its asthma all the same. I just wish these kids could catch a break, Donna is single so when one of the kids is sick, the other is inevitably going to get sick as they are all together all of the time.
It’s great to see Aaron showing little Hayden how to use his inhaler correctly, and it’s so funny listening to him tell his little brother that he’s doing it wrong, they are 2 little characters.
If you would like to speak to an Asthma Nurse about Asthma Control call the Asthma Helpline on 1850 44 54 64
