Jenna Gets Asthma

Story by Alison Fricke

Photos from Flickr.com

Sound clips from sshhtt.com

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Jenna had just finished first grade when her family moved to New York. Jenna liked it there.

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Everything in New York was green, and there were so many plants and trees.

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She lived her whole life in Arizona, where it was hot and dry, and not many things grew.

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The two things Jenna loved to do more than anything were to play soccer, and run with her dog, Max. She got to both of these things during the Summer.

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Jenna loved her new school, she made a lot of friends there and on her soccer team.

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One day at soccer practice Jenna began to cough and cough. It would not stop. Her chest felt tight, and when she tried to catch her breath she made a funny noise. But there was nothing funny about this, it was scary.

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Coach had her sit down to rest and drink water. After a few minutes she began to feel better. It was a good thing that practice was almost over, and mom was there to pick her up early.

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Coach told Jenna's mom what happened. Mom said, "Lets go over to see Kim the Nurse Practioner right now." She called the doctor's office on her cell phone told them Jenna needed to come in right away.

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The Nurse Practioner, Kim, listened to Jenna’s chest with a stethascope, and gave her a nebulizer treatment right away. In just a few minutes, Jenna felt much better

Kim said that Jenna had Asthma, and maybe allergies. Jenna’s mom asked why Jenna never had problems with this before. Kim said that Asthma and allergies can start on anybody at any time. She also said this sometimes happened to people who move to a new climate.

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Being around new plants and trees, and different weather can trigger Asthma and allergies. Kim did allergy tests on Jenna, but they were going to have to wait a week to find out what Jenna was allergic to. If Jenna had allergies, she would have to try and stay away from those things. Jenna had lots of questions after Kim told her about Asthma and allergies. "Will I be able to play soccer? " "Will I be able to keep my dog?" "Will I be able to play in the snow?"

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Kim said Jenna could play soccer, play in the snow, and do things like other kids, but they had to have an Asthma Action Plan. This is a written plan that the Kim, Jeanna, and her mother would make to manage Asthma at home, school, and on the soccer field.

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A week later Jenna and her mom went back to see Kim. The test showed that Jenna was allergic to plants called ragweed that do not grow in Arizona. Thats why Jenna never had a problem before. Jenna was happy to hear that she was not allergic to her dog, Max. The three of them talked about the Asthma Action Plan and allergies. Jenna and her mom had all their questions answered. Part of the plan was for Jenna to use her inhaler in the morning if she had a game that day. If Jenna had trouble breathing during a game, her mom would be there with the inhaler. Coach was going to be in on the plan as well. Jenna would tell him if she needed to rest.

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The next time Jenna played soccer knowing that she had Asthma and allergies, she was nervous. What if she started to cough? She did not want to let her team down. Then she remembered the Asthma Action Plan, and she felt better. Jenna did not have just a soccer team, but a team of people to help her with her Asthma. She was able to play that day, and the rest of the soccer season.

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Jenna and her mom worked with Kim to update the Asthma Action Plan when the seasons changed, or when Jenna got a cold. It has been about one year now and Jenna has not missed a day of school or a soccer game because of Asthma. She has a winning team with soccer and with Asthma.

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