Weekend Interrupted...

Now into the lovely season of fall on the east coast, I planned to write about my outdoor adventures thus far, most recently near my hometown at the “Scarecrow Festival” at Peddler’s Village in PA.  Wait, where was this Peddler’s Village in the recent Huffington Post article of the best places to watch the leaves change? 

But something closer to my heart changed my direction for this month’s post.


This past weekend, my husband and I, in PA for that festival, were spending some quality time with my family. Sunday morning, another sunny and promising weekend day, the whole lot of us was headed out to brunch. My mother, my husband, my sister and my lovely and adorable three year old niece and my four year old nephew scattered around, getting dressed, ready to go out and enjoy a nice feast.

While we took turns taking showers, my sister and I were watching her son Erron (pronounced Aaron), play with his toy trucks. Even as the TV loudly sounded off the voices of Dora and Diego, we noticed Erron’s chest was going in and out rapidly, like he just ran a sprint. Erron has had trouble breathing since close to birth but hasn’t been officially diagnosed with asthma or any respiratory issue yet. Nonetheless, the doctor had my sister get a nebulizer for the often random cases where he had trouble breathing.

After the treatment, he came back to watch TV. My sister and I again plopped in the comfy sofa chairs to catch up on life. Suddenly, we saw Erron laid out on the floor while being sick. And afterwards, again, he huffed and puffed, unable to breathe normally. This time the whizzing was increasingly pronounced.

Now I’ve had acute asthma since 14 months old. So I should be used to this scene. My sister was the lucky one who never acquired asthma.

Not sure how many of us either know , have a loved one, or themselves have asthma, but even as a long time suffer, I never get use to attacks. Especially when it is someone so young. And my beloved nephew.

Also, I never know when the right time to go to the hospital is. When I was young, my mother had tried many homeopathic or natural treatments well before considering the hospital. Anyone with asthma breath steam, have their back massaged or drink caffeine? Well most of the time it helped relax my lungs a bit but I’d still end up getting a dose of that yucky liquid they used before inhalers. And my mother would just stay up with my night after night trying to make me as comfortable as possible.

Erron, was immediately taken to our local hospital after the nebulizer failed to even relive his asthma for even 30 minutes. I was a little skeptical still because even now, I never go, I just take prednisone pills which my doctor has prescribed for me for close to 20 years. I, imagine however, that those may be too harsh for such a young person. And again, you never know in a young child so best to take him in.

And I’m glad we did, the doctor at the local hospital put in an order to have him transferred to CHOP. Worried again, although CHOP has an amazing reputation.

At this time, asthma has no cure. According to research, approximately 2 out of 3 children with asthma grow out of asthma as adults. I, unfortunately was the 1 of 3 that do not. Diagnosed at 14 months – acute asthma – once triggered, to this day, can have shortness of breath and a tight chest for weeks.

Erron, I pray, will be the 2 out of 3 that do. He spent only a night at CHOP and then was released to my sister. They officially diagnosed him with asthma and set up my sister with a ‘parents with asthmatic children’ class as well as a prescription for a maintenance inhaler.

I, myself, have been doing the same thing for so many years; I haven’t even read, discussed or experienced any new products and/or options one has to help maintain asthma. So I’m starting with a fresh perspective to what others are doing – both naturally and by prescription as well as support groups.

Anyway, that discussion and my findings will be for another month.

In the meantime, stay well and enjoy family, friends and your Spirit for Living…