Brent
Pope, Ex New Zealand rugby player, RTE rugby
pundit and children's book author (including the 3 little
pigs and the wheezing wolf for the Asthma Society)
"I was a very sickly child, born with double pneumonia
and bronchitis, so my early years where fraught with breathing
problems, asthma and severe whooping cough. My mother always
said "I was destined to do something special with
my life because I was so ill" When I was young I can
vividly remember spending days off school with an asthma
consultant in the Cashmere Hills in Christchurch, going
through my breathing drills. Even though I suffered early
on, I was determined to become a sports star and I worked
harder than the next person simply because I had to. Luckily
I grew out of asthma in my teens, but I had a relapse a
few years ago, but with my inhaler that soon disappeared
as well. The message from everybody on this website is
the same that just because you have asthma is no reason
for you not to pursue your dreams; in fact use it as a
driving force, a motivator to get you where you want to
be. The determination just to be normal and get on with
life will help you in whatever field or direction you want
to take. My only advice is to know your body, know what
factors trigger you, be diligent with your medication even
when it is a hassle and listen to the professionals, then
as the man in the NIKE advertisement said "Just do
it". |
