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L IKe most people

with asthma, I

enjoy reading the many arti-

cles and motivational stories

about the gold medalists who

have asthma, but I have never

read one about someone like

myself, who is not a profes-

sional athlete but just has a

love of sports.

Aside from being an asth-

matic and having to work to control my asthma each and every day, asthma is a big part

of my life in other ways as well. I sit on several proactive local committees at the Tucson

American Lung Association (ALA), all of which seek to improve asthma care and raise

awareness about asthma in the community. I work in the Respiratory Division for Merck

Pharmaceuticals where, on a daily basis, I call on health care clinicians who treat asthma.

On the weekends I play on a softball team - - most of my teammates have asthma.

When I went to my doctor to discuss t reatment , w~s ce~a in that he would want ~ e to stop playing

sports since running m a d e m e s o o u ~ o f b~atho LucRRy for m e , this ~ a s not the caSeo

I first developed asthma at the age of 5. My dad also has asthma. We would go to the doctor's office together for our evalua- tion and treatment. It was a family condi- tion. We shared the bot tom half of the medicine cabinet for our many medica- tions. Even though I had asthma, I was also one of the fastest runners in my neighbor- hood. I was always the last one standing in "freeze tag" but I was also the one coughing and most out of breath. It was my love for

running coupled with the fact that I was always out of breath that brought me to the doctor's office for a solution. When I went to my doctor to discuss treatment, I was certain that he would want me to stop playing sports since running made me so out of breath. Luckily for me, this was not the case. My specialist, Dr. Robert Biondi, and pediatrician, Dr. Norman Weinberger, encouraged me to keep running and play- ing sports. From that day forward we

1 4 ] A S T H M A t o s u b s c r i b e c a l l 1 . 8 0 0 . 5 2 7 . 3 2 8 4

formed a lasting partnership in an asthma care regimen which included medication, treatment compliance and education. Once my asthma was under control, I made run- ning a lifetime sport. I don't think I have walked since.

My mom entered me in my first road

lot of fun, and most importantly, we hope we have motivated others with asthma to get involved in a sport. My hopes are that asthmatics of any age and ability will reap the benefits of playing a sport or participat- ing in an athletic activity. When I go to work every day, I see children and adults in

t h a v e aiveaFs l o o k e d to s p o t s a s a 9rear for people t@ be active arad healthy but aJso as some°

that pr@m@tes @amarade ie,

race at the age of 6. I won for my age group. (I think I was the only one in my age group but, nonetheless, it was great motivation for a girl who had once been always out of breath.) From this "monu- mental" 5k race at age 6 came all-state titles in track during high school, collegiate track and now marathons.

Playing sports is an important part of my life. It is also something I believe every- one with asthma should be able to do if they so desire; proper asthma treatment and asthma education is the key. Today I train six days a week. This includes daily long-distance runs, weight training, boxing three nights a week, hikes in the Tucson Canyons and softball on the weekends. My next marathon will be this spring. The inside of my house appears to be an exten- sion of a sporting goods store and pharma- cy. It is difficult to walk through my house without tripping over a rollerblade, baseball mit or inhaler, which draws attention to the fact that, for asthmatics, these two things are so closely related.

I have always looked to sports as a great way for people to be active and healthy but also as something that pro- motes camaraderie. Last year I co-founded a softball team to promote asthma and sports. With a grant written through the Asthma Foundation of Southern Arizona our team - - the "Area 51 Asthmaniacs" - - was formed. We were champions during our first season in the city league, we had a

physicians waiting rooms and asthma clin- ics wearing soccer cleats, running shoes and carrying sporting equipment. This is how it should be. Asthma should not be your most challenging opponent. With proper treatment that provides good asthma con- trol, you can achieve any personal goal.

--Megan Fitzgerald, RN, BSN

to s u b s c r i b e c a l l 1 . 8 0 0 . 5 2 7 . 3 2 8 4 A S T H M A 1 5