Asthma, My Story!

By Isabelle Utley

Growing up, my school bag wasn’t complete without my blue inhaler and Volumatic spacer. While other kids carried pencils and toys, and later makeup and hair products, my essentials were tools for managing my asthma. It’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

I was diagnosed with asthma during my early years, but the signs were there from birth. Coughing fits, difficulty breathing, and frequent chest infections marked my day-to-day life. At just 18 months old, I had double pneumonia, setting the tone for my respiratory struggles to come. At home, asthma was just a part of who I was. But stepping into the world of school unveiled the challenges that lay ahead. Misunderstanding and stigma surrounded my condition, brought about by years of stereotyping by TV and cinema. From being side-lined during PE to missing out on school trips, asthma made me feel different from my peers and almost always pitied and embarrassed.

Then came 2019, my first year at university, and a Halloween night turned nightmare. My first severe asthma attack hit me unexpectedly, leaving me unable to speak and, eventually, stand. Rushed to A&E, I had unknowingly started a new reality; gone was my moderate asthma, replaced by an out-of-control version marked with frequent hospital visits, high-care admissions, and endless tests. Over the years, A&E departments were a common sight, and I became a regular to respiratory wards, to the point where staff knew me by name. The ‘worst-case scenario’ discussion became as common a routine as brushing your teeth before bed. It’s a surreal experience in your late teens and early twenties to not be unsettled by such topics. When it’s a conversation that gains frequency over a short period of time, you learn to cope in any way you can. For me, it’s believing in the improbability of the worst outcome – that this exchange I have with doctors is the same talk given to every patient regardless of ailment. I refuse to let asthma define or dictate my life choices, though it lingers in the corner of my mind always, an immutable fact that I’ve rather stubbornly tried to avoid.

Amidst the medical battles, I’ve witnessed the strain on friendships and relationships. My unpredictable health has tested the strongest of bonds. Throughout it all, however, it’s shown me who I can trust – my family, never faltering. Since day one, their support and care has been indispensable, propelling me forward and demonstrating to me that asthma, though a significant part of my life, does not have to dictate my life nor my achievements. It is because of them that I’ve successfully been able to complete my undergraduate degree and master’s to the highest qualifications.

And through it all, I’ve learned resilience. Asthma isn’t just a condition; it’s a journey of breaking barriers and finding strength. It’s taught me the power of perseverance and the importance of self-advocacy. Owning my asthma story, I refuse to let it define me or limit my aspirations. With each breath, I embrace life’s uncertainties, knowing that every challenge is an opportunity to grow stronger. And as I share my story with you, I hope to motivate today’s youth to do the same—to embrace their struggles and rewrite their narratives.