Guest Author - Amy Anaruk
Children with asthma often understand their disease better when they read or watch stories about other kids who use inhalers or nebulizers, too. Although it was incredibly hard to treat an asthmatic baby who lacked the ability to tell me she couldn�t breathe, I find it almost as hard to explain to that now-older child why she has asthma, why her friends don�t, and why the disease will likely impact the rest of her life.
My second grader feels self-conscious when other students look at her while she uses her inhaler in the nurse�s office at school. She claims they give her funny looks and probably think her inhaler is �weird.� Is the problem all in her head? Probably, but she doesn�t like being the center of this sort of attention, and I don�t blame her. Books and movies that feature asthmatic characters keep kids from feeling alone with their disease. Although too many of the asthma stories out there talk down to children and feature forced plotlines and uninteresting characters, there are a few good ones. Here are three good resources.
For the Younger Set
The Lion Who Had Asthma by Jonathan London and Nadine Bernard Westcott
This book centers on a little boy who plays pretend and has an active imagination. Having breathing problems turns him from a powerful, courageous lion into a scared one, and he needs his nebulizer. Luckily, his mother suggests he be a jet pilot with his nebulizer mask, so he finishes his treatment,�flies� back to the jungle, and becomes a lion again. I like the story for its transformation of the mask from a symbol of the child�s illness into one of empowerment.
A is for Asthma
This video introduces a new muppet on Sesame Street, and she has asthma. The short video shows Dani educating other muppets�including, of course, the wildly popular Elmo�about her lung disorder. Expect the usual quality of teaching and entertainment from the Sesame Workshop. I can�t find the video on DVD, but you can order a VHS tape from the link below.
For School-Age Children
All About Asthma by William Ostrow and Vivian Ostrow
William, eight years-old, explains how he is �stuck� with asthma but also explains how the disease is manageable. I like the emphasis on living a normal, healthy life. Asthma is illustrated here as a dusty black ball that sits on the narrator�s shoulder, a pretty appropriate depiction.
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"Smile, breathe and go slowly." -Thich Nhat Hanh
This article is not written by a medical professional, and information on this page should never be substituted for your physcian�s advice. If you have any questions about your asthma and/or allergies, you should always contact your physician first.
