by Kathy Stranberg

Created on: September 08, 2008   Last Updated: September 19, 2008

"If you had been a half hour later your son would have been dead," the emergency room doctor informed us after we watched him put our blue baby on oxygen. He was eleven months old and we were relieved when his skin started to turn pink once more.

After several similar trips to the hospital, our doctor called in a specialist called a pulmonologist who explained to us that our son had asthma. The pulmonologist went on to tell us that even though our son had asthma it was treatable. He told us that our son had something called viral induced asthma. He also explained that we might have to make some lifestyle changes. "What lifestyle changes?" my husband asked. The doctor explained that our son needed to live in a smoke and virus free environment. "No problem, we don't smoke! However how do we stay virus free?" I asked. The doctor also explained that our son would have to begin taking medicine and that he would have to stay away from anyone that was sick until the medicine began to take affect. He also explained that our son would probably have to take some sort of medicine his whole life. "Okay, just tell us what we need to do." my husband stated. The doctor suggested a particular medication that would be safe for a baby to take. He also had us start breathing treatments three times a day.

That was to be our routine for the next eight months. During that time we continued to go to the hospital one to two times a month. My husband and I bought a stethoscope and learned the symptoms of an asthma attack. Finally the medication and aerosol treatments started to work and we were able to maintain my son's health at home. Eventually the frequencies of the treatments were able to be reduced and hospital visits became a thing of the past.

By the time our son was of age to attend kindergarten, I had decided to quit my job and home school him in order to keep him safe from potential viruses. Unfortunately finances didn't allow me to continue to home school my son and he went to public school for first grade. Even though by that time my son's asthma was controlled by the medication he was taking, I was terrified an asthma attack would take place.

I went to the school nurse and asked her if she had an aerosol machine that she could use if I sent my son's vials of medication to school. She assured me that not only did she have an aerosol machine but that there were other children whose parents had the same concerns. She also suggested that I might consider talking to the doctor

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>