Guy B., NJ

I just turned 50 years old and I have been thinking about my life journey since turning 50. I think it is amazing I got to this age. You see, I was born with asthma. If we had to trace the root of how I was diagnosed with asthma it was probably because both of my parents smoked. By the age of 10, I was hospitalized over 32 times given hundreds of adrenaline shots, spent hours in emergency rooms and doctors Offices and broke dozens of oxygen tents. I spent every holiday in the hospital at some point. I missed weeks of school and the highlight was when the kids from class would write me get well cards.

When I was 10 years old, I had my worst asthma attack yet. I was brought into the hospital and nothing was getting better. My attack eventually led to a left collapsed lung. Now, I really couldn't breathe. At 10 years old I knew I was dying. Surrounded by doctors and my dad, I remember screaming at him "Help me, you aren't doing anything while your son is dying!" I still get choked up knowing that I said that to him.

The reality was that the hospital I was in did not have a Children's ICU and really couldn't take care of me. My doctor at the time, a wonderful man... the doctor grabbed my parents and essentially said we need to sneak your son out of this hospital. They got a private ambulance, wheeled me out into the cold and brough me to a hospital with a Children's ICU. Little did we know that this move would change everything for me.

I was flatlining but they got me back. I remember going in and out of consciousness with doctors and nurses all around me. They saved me. At the same time, it just happened that another young doctor was giving a seminar in the hospital about children's asthma and allergies. A nurse went down to him and said that he should come see me after he is done. Well, he did come to see me. He has been my asthma doctor for 40 years. An amazing man saved my life in more ways than one. Since that time, I only had two more serious attacks and have my asthma under control.

I share this story because I want to be an inspiration to others. I especially want to inspire young mothers and children to let them know it gets better and there are people that want to help. I am proof positive that you could lead a normal life with asthma and I hope to convey that to others