Let’s Keep our Kids out of Hospital!

“My grandson is five years old and he has been battling with asthma since he was three months. He has been in and out of hospital and at one stage he ended up in intensive care and we thought we would lose him.

“He loves playing rugby but because of his asthma he only managed to play about four games this season. He wants to be an All Black when he gets older. I hate it when he gets his asthma and wish it could be transferred to me so that I could take on his pain. “

Lagi Kuresa, Nana of 5 year old Fa’afetai Fa’alialia (pictured), from Invercargill.

“When she was small my daughter had four major asthma attacks from which she was hospitalised twice. It was a very stressful time as a young family to manage her condition and it broke my heart to see her little body struggling to thrive.”

Mother of a young Rotorua girl with asthma.

Let’s Keep our Kids out of Hospital!

The Chief Executive of the Asthma Foundation, Angela Francis, is asking New Zealander’s to join her in stepping up the fight against asthma.

“One in 4 children in this country has asthma and it’s the leading reason for children under 5 being hospitalised. Although hospitalisations are coming down, we need to all pull together to keep our kids out of hospital.

“We hear many stories of what it’s like for kids getting sick and being hospitalised with asthma. Frankly, they are upsetting.*

“Our hospitals are staffed by excellent, caring professionals who do a good job of helping everyone stay as calm as they can, given the circumstances. However for the child and parents involved, it’s often frightening and very stressful.”

“We’re reminding parents of children with asthma to make sure they get a child asthma plan** and ensure that their children use their preventer medication regularly.”

“We are also asking New Zealanders to back Asthma Awareness Week and Balloon Day later this month. Donations can be made at Mitre 10 and Mitre 10 MEGA stores***.

“You’ll see our Balloon Day posters and balloons around communities at medical centres, libraries, pharmacies, schools and hospitals. New Zealanders’ support will fund more vital research for better treatments.

Asthma Awareness Week runs from 27 April to 3 May, with our main fundraising day, Balloon Day, on Friday 29 April.

*See quotes above

**Child asthma plans are to be filled out by a parent and child together with a health professional. They are available at www.asthmafoundation.org.nz where there is also a directory of Asthma Societies across New Zealand. The societies also have copies of the plans.

***You can donate $3 to Balloon Day by texting ‘PUFF’ to 4560 or automatically donate $20 by calling 0900 4 ASTHMA (0900 4 278 462).

ENDS

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