At sixteen years old I was diagnosed with asthma. After reviewing my medical and personal histories, my doctor decided that was probably born with asthma, but because of my home situation it went unnoticed. After numerous chest x-rays he also decided that I had untreated bronchitis and possibly pneumonia several times during my childhood. I
was put on numerous medications to help me breath and clear up my lungs. I continued taking the medicine faithfully for many years, even when it didn't seem to work. I was in and out of hospitals for many years. Finally, at the age of twenty-three, it seemed like my asthma was under control. The only concern I had was what the effects of the steroid medications I needed would be if I had to take them for the rest of my life. Feeling pretty secure, my husband and I got my doctor's permission to have a baby. I became pregnant quickly and had very few complications due to my asthma. I was fairly content.
Six weeks after my daughter was born, the hormonal changes my body was undergoing caused a severe change in my breathing. All of a sudden, I couldn't breathe. I remember sitting on my bed, looking at my husband hold my 6 week old daughter and gasping for breath. By the time the paramedics got there my lips and fingernails were blue. Shortly after they arrived I passed out. I woke up twelve hours or so later in the ICU. The first
thing I noticed was that I had been restrained. Next, I noticed a machine was breathing for me. I was on a respirator. I called for the nurse and as soon as my doctor heard I was
awake he came to check on me.
"What happened? You almost left us, you know." my doctor informed me as he entered the room.
Of course, I couldn't talk or write because I was still on the respirator and still tied down.
Listening to my lungs, the doctor told me that he was going to have the nurse remove the respirator and he would be back to talk to me. When he came back, my doctor questioned me about everything I had done in the few days prior to my asthma attack. We could come up with no reason for my almost fatal experience other than postpartum hormonal changes. I was released from the hospital two weeks later with no medication changes. When I had my attack, I was already taking the strongest asthma medications available. There was nothing else anyone could do. It was then I realized traditional medicine was not going to help me. If I didn't find another way to treat my asthma, I would not be around to see my daughter grow up. That night, I prayed for divine guidance.
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