Life always comes full circle. The reason for starting this blog almost 20 years ago was because I was frustrated with how little was known about severe asthma and how misunderstood the condition was (also a little bit of a pity party). I was also upset and angry because it felt like everything I ever loved was taken away due to severe asthma.
But now I sit here and realise that 20 years on and everything severe asthma had taken away, in its very round about way it has given me it all back and more.
Sport was my life. It was all I ever dreamed about. I had these huge dreams that I would dedicate my life to playing sport and working in the sports industry in some capacity but severe asthma had other ideas. I felt like it was ripped away from me and almost cost me my life on many occasions (when I was too stubborn to listen to Drs and continued trying to play).
If only when I started this blog did I know that 20 years later I would be on the brink of living the life I dreamt about (if slightly different).
In many ways severe asthma has ruined many aspects of life and still does and Im sure will continue to do so in the future but it has also given me so much. I am really proud of some of the things I have accomplished since starting this blog and in my work as a severe asthma advocate, patient and public involvement advisor, author and many other hats I have worn. Some of the key highlights are:
- Healthcare Hero
- Patient and Public Involvement Lead at the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research
- Patient Chair Severe Heterogenous Asthma Research collaboration- Patient centred (SHARP)
- Chair Severe Asthma Patient Conference
- Ran Edinburgh Half Marathon for Asthma UK
- Represented Scotland for lacrosse
- Got my nursing degree
- Published in many academic journals as both author and as a co-author
- Co-designed Patient and Public Involvement module for a post grad University degree
- Guest lectured at various universities
- Spoken at the Scottish Government to MSP’s and various others about life with severe asthma
This is just a selection of the things that I am proud of doing because of what severe asthma has done to me. But equally because of what severe asthma has done to me in a negative way I have also been given the life back that I once would dream about. Due to the devastating effects of severe asthma attacks, medications for severe asthma and complications in 2023 I was presented with the opportunity to participate in para sport which set me back on the path to the dream I had all those years ago.
This blog has given me an outlet to vent my frustrations while raising awareness of this condition and highlighting to the many people who need to know just what life is like living with severe asthma. Of late I have found less and less reason for me to keep writing and more time to dedicate to other things in life which is why now is the right time to close this chapter. Before I finish I cant forget all those who I have met over the years and sadly all those who have died as a result of severe asthma there are too many to name but they will never be forgotten.
My blog posts will still be available for people to read but there won’t be any new posts after this one. I will still do some advocacy work, work on the various research projects I am part of and of course continue my work with Asthma and Lung UK who have been with me for over 30 years and I won’t ever end that relationship.
I will leave you with this photo from 20 years ago when I had no idea that 6hours later my life would be changing forever and one from now when life has gone full circle.
ANONYMOUS-ASTHMA 