THANKFUL

From the age of 2ish, Nick was diagnosed with "Reactive Airway Disease" which they then termed as "Asthma" after he turned 3. I remember him being really little and just starting to breath really hard and fast. We would take him in to after care and they would give him a "treatment" and he would be okay. As he got a little older (3), it became more of a concern and happening enough that he had to have a nebulizer and do "treatments" several times a day. Thinking back, we just did what we needed to do for him and didn't get "down" about it, because it needed to be handled and we just wanted him to be okay. Now, it just makes me sad and remember how tough those times really were. One time, he was struggling but wasn't too bad and we were driving to the doctor for an appt and by the time we got there, he was in a very bad situation which even scared the nurse. If I recall, they gave him a shot in his leg and that helped immediately. I am pretty sure even Dr. Kyriazi was scared because he still mentions it sometimes.

After a while, Dr. Kyriazi felt like it would be best for him to go to a specialist for this so we started with Dr. Koepke and Colorado Allergy and ASthma. He also started with allergy shots that would continue for over 4 years on a weekly basis ...sometimes up to 2-3 times a week. He was also put on a daily medication which was fairly new at the time, Advair, and had a nebulizer, albuterol and steroids when necessary...lots for a little kid to handle, but he never complained and just did what he needed to do.

In 2004, he truly had his worst year and was in and out of the specialists office more than I could probably count along with a ride in the ambulance. There were some scary times and many doses of medication and steroids. It makes me feel so bad when I think back to this, but once again, Nick showed his strength and handled all this better than most people handle health issues as adults.

Fast forward to yesterday (as I could go on about this for many more paragraphs)...he was moved down on his daily Advair from 250 to 100 about 8 months ago. He was afraid to lower his dose because he knew that this medication really has made a difference. As he stayed on the lower dose, he seemed to not need his albuterol "puffer" too often and was more preventative up front than needing it as an "emergency." Once again, not thinking too much about it and just thankful he was doing okay. When his dose was lowered 8 months ago, his "levels" were at 87% which were considered very good. YESTERDAY, we went in for a med check and to get prescriptions renewed and his levels...with less medication were at 97%!!! Nick told Martha (the PA that has been with him through all the years) that he hasn't felt "tight" in a long time and was doing well. What impresses me about Nick is that he has always been very in tune to his asthma and what it felt like to him...very important, but also amazing that even a little boy at such a young age, could gage when he was hitting a point of concern. He remains on his Advair 100 and will do so but the progress he has made is miraculous, and now I can look back on these past 14 years and really reflect.

I would never wish this upon him for anything...and it is so hard to even think back to when he would just get all comfy, get his whitey and Arf, have a cup of milk in his straw cup, pull the fuzzies off it and and then do his nebulizer treatment. It was just part of him...and Asthma will always be part of him. He always needs to continue to trust himself and his body when he struggles and be aware of that and willing to take action...I think that he will. He has gained a inner strength because of all of this and is stronger and better because of this awful disease. He has never let asthma get him...and really never got down about it, but I have to think it was frustrating so many times and scary even more times. So...for now, we are thankful that he is doing well and I will pray and pray and pray that it remains so forever! I love you so much Nick and am so proud of you. Thanks for being such a model for all of us.