At the age of 22 I nearly died from pneumonia. In the several years since then I struggle through every single winter when the air quality is poor in Northern Utah. I spend the majority of the winter months coughing and wheezing. It is often to the point where I feel as though a branding iron is stuffed down my throat every time I take a breath. While I fully intend to move away from Northern Utah as soon as possible, I am stuck here for the next few years. The air is not only unhealthy for people like me, but for everyone. In addition to feeling miserable myself, I worry about my 2-year-old daughter and any future children I might have.
