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A Son's Asthma Inspires a Mother's Graduate School Research

. . . . hen i think ot how iittie i knew about asthma when my son, Wiley, was lirs~ ba~tiing dxia mysmri- W ous illness, I wonder how many other families have had experiences similar to ours.

Wiley was diagnosed with asthma when he was 5 years old. We had just moved to Austin, Texas, which has frequently been called the "allergy capital of the world." Because asthma has a strong genetic component, and runs in both sides of our family, it was not surprising that my son was genetically pre- disposed and subsequently developed it. At the time, I had just started graduate school at the T T �9 . ,,'%~]1~ I I ) wnlverslty or lexas, my husoanos dental practice was undergoing some major transitions, and we were experiencing some financial difficulties. Our stress levels were constantly high and things always seemed chaotic in our house. It was during this time that my son started having these horrendous asthma attacks that nearly claimed his life. We thought we were managing his asthma properly. He had under- gone various trials of medications in addition to allergy shots. We also tried to control his environ- ment by encasing his bed mattress and pillows in the appropriate allergen covers. There were days when my husband and I felt like zombies, barely able to function due to exhaustion and worry from Wiley's nightly attacks. Nothing seemed to help. If not for the injections of epinephrine we administered to Wiley at the time of his attacks from bee-sting kits that we happened to have, we surely would have lost h i m - - right there in my arms.

In a health psychology class I was enrolled in at that time, we were studying stress and illness. A whole chapter in our text was devoted to asthma. It was then that it "clicked" for me. I realized how cer- tain psychosocial factors can exacerbate and main- tain an illness, such as asthma. Once my husband and I became more attuned to the cause-and-effect symptoms that my son was experiencing, we decid- ed to address the issues that could be causing him undue stress and contributing to his attacks. In addition to following a diligent asthma manage- ment plan, which utilized the appropriate bron-

chodilators and inhaled corticosteroids, we began stress management initiatives and psychological intervention. After a long period of having felt our efforts were futile, this combination of therapies finally made a difference; our son's illness improved.

It's been over four years since I enrolled in ~tad- uate school and since Wiley had his last severe asth- ma attack. We now know what triggers his asthma and how to best manage it. ~griley missed on~ day of school last semester due to a respiratory infection triggering his asthma; otherwise, he seldom has trouble. He loves to play baseball and golf, and plays the trumpet in the school jazz band. Last

semester, he was inducted into the [or Honor Society. as developed into a adjusted adolescent boy. ~t graduated with a doc- th education. My disser- titled "The Effects of ioning, Child Behaviors 3eliefs on Asthma in Children and Part of the acknowledg- in my dissertation reads

as follows: "I wish to acknowledge my pil lar--my son Wiley, whose struggle with asthma instigated this research. In addition to heightening my awareness of those priorities which are the dear- est in life, he inadvertently molded this research path for me. In spite of all the complexities he encountered while being ill, he remained the strongest of all. And although he experienced some hardships and frightening episodes with his illness, may his heart know to recognize the childhood memories that are the most precious and may they remain with him forever.

--Linda Russell, PhD

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