Kevin Higgins (11), from Donaghmede in Dublin, was only 14 months old when diagnosed with asthma. His mother, Jean, who also suffers from asthma, describes Kevin's seven years of pain and his remarkable recovery"The doctors first noticed Kevin wheezing when he was just seven weeks old. They thought it was bronchitis at first. But a year later they came back and diagnosed asthma.
"The attacks were very severe right from the start. The doctors put him on drugs for five- to seven-day periods. He had to use a Nebuliser four times a day every day, and six times a day when it was bad. He would also take Ventolin and other medicine, including beads which I used to break up and put in ice cream for him.
"It became very difficult from a family point of view. I had an older boy whom I never saw for two years because I was in Harcourt Street Hospital all the time. On average, Kevin would have 11 attacks a year and was hospitalised once a month.
"Then when he got older he couldn't do anything. Santa brought him a bike but he couldn't ride it. He wouldn't be able to go out to play football. He'd be out of breath as soon as he went out the door. And all sorts of things used to bother him: dampness, pollen, the heat and car fumes. We used to live in Clondalkin, but because of the smog we decided to move to Donaghmede by the coast.
"But things didn't really change until three years ago when he moved on to a new set of drugs: Flixotide, Ferevent, Slophyllin and his Ventolin inhaler.
"After about four weeks there was a terrific improvement. He plays Gaelic and soccer now. He swims and plays the tin whistle and bodhran and he wants to take up Irish dancing, but it clashes with his Gaelic. The only thing that bothers him now is dry ice and he hasn't had an attack for 2 1/2 years.
"He has a terrific life now that the asthma is under control. While there's been a lot of frustration and trial and error, it's great to come out at the end and see the difference."
