Asthma: St John Ambulance clarify assist throughout assault

A mum is elevating consciousness of how harmful asthma may be following her daughter’s lifelong wrestle with the situation.

From simply two months previous Katie Hoy, now 12, was “constantly wheezy” and out and in of hospital for X-rays.

At the age of 1 she suffered a chest infection and was prescribed antibiotics, which ultimately led to a referral at an bronchial asthma clinic.

Although she was given inhalers, which she used as instructed, the older she obtained the more serious the situation grew to become.

Speaking to Belfast Live, her mom Michelle recalled: “She was having asthma attacks everywhere.

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Katie has suffered from asthma since she was just eight weeks old (Image: NICHS)

“Once we took a day trip to Murlough beach. Katie had been in good health, she hadn’t been wheezy or shown any symptoms, but she had a full asthma attack on the beach.

"That was the scariest day we ever had. There was absolutely no warning.”

It was revealed that Katie, from Belfast in Northern Ireland, had a uncommon and severe type of bronchial asthma.

“The doctors later told us Katie had gone from being asthmatic to being a brittle asthmatic which means there are no signs an asthma attack could be imminent,” Michelle stated.

"Knowing Katie may have an assault at any second, with completely no warning, is terrifying and it is why she is rarely with out her medicine.

"She always carries a little bag with her inhaler, so she has it in case she needs it- whenever, wherever.

Michelle (centre) is raising awareness of the seriousness of asthma (Image: NICHS)

“Another frightening attack happened when we were on holiday at our caravan in Newcastle.

“Katie had a severe asthma attack not long into the holiday and ended up being admitted to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry for a week.”

That hospital stay was just yet another in a long list for Katie.

Michelle said: “Katie has been admitted to hospital so many times from when she was a baby up until about a year ago.

“It was always so frightening, but the doctors have never been able to diagnose why Katie’s asthma is so severe.

“For most kids with asthma, they find it gets worse in either winter or summer, depending on their individual triggers. With Katie, it makes no difference what time of year it is, she can have bad asthma attacks the whole year round which is quite unusual.”

Katie has been admitted to hospital multiple times due to her condition (Image: NICHS)

More just lately Katie has been prescribed a brand new remedy referred to as Dupilumab that's delivered by injection.

Michelle stated: “Dupilumab has been shown to work well in both asthma and eczema when standard therapy has failed. Katie gets this on a fortnightly basis, and it has been life changing for her.

"Katie hasn’t been hospitalised by an asthma attack since starting the Dupilumab injections.

"Also, for the first time in over two years, she has been able to stop taking steroids on a constant basis which is great as there can be side effects of taking these long term.

“The health impact for Katie has obviously been massive but the life impact has been just as big. We no longer have to go to the asthma clinic to get the injections as we can now administer these at home.”

As a end result she is catching up on faculty and hobbies that had been interrupted beforehand by numerous hospital visits.

Katie stated: “I have suffered with asthma my whole life. I have always felt different from my peers as I have never been able to lead a normal life and participate in normal activities with my friends.

"Before, most plans I made with my friends and family ended up being cancelled due to my asthma flare ups.

”Things like planning birthday events, attending gymnastics and Gaelic. Since I began the Dupilumab injections I can lead a extra regular life and proceed with my afterschool actions.

"Asthma isn't stopping me. I don’t overlook my bronchial asthma is extreme although and I at all times ensure that to take my medicine twice a day and convey my inhalers with me when I'm out with family and friends.”

In a bid to lift consciousness of how extreme and debilitating bronchial asthma may be Michelle has shared Katie’s story as a part of a marketing campaign with charity Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS).

”Asthma must be acknowledged more-it’s not only a little bit of wheeziness, it may be deadly,” Michelle added.

“The brutal fact is people die every day from asthma attacks. We wanted to share our experiences to play our part in helping raise awareness and get people to take asthma seriously.”

For additional data and help about bronchial asthma go to nichs.org.uk/asthmacankill.