Dear Deborah,

You have my deepest sympathy on your loss. Only another parent, like Meredith, can truly understand the loss of a child. Nothing we - or anyone - can say will make it easier. Nothing is going to replace your son, or make his passing less frustrating.

But you may find that channeling your pain can help - not only for you, your family and friends, but all the other spouses, children, friends and colleagues who may be living with asthma, know someone intimately at risk, or may suffer the same kind of loss at some point.

The reality is asthma kills. And the rate at which it kills is increasing - we aren’t completely certain why, how or what needs to be done about it. But it’s something we need to fix. Now.

When I was a child in the 1950s-60s, there was little accurate understanding of asthma, its triggers, almost no effective treatments, and little attention by the wider public of its costs, both physically/personally and economically. Along with the great strides we’ve made with preventive medications and what we’ve learned about triggers has come greater societal awareness, but still far to little understanding of just how dangerous a disease it is.

Some of us are channeling our efforts into learning more, teaching more, challenging preconceptions, and campaigning for better, more effective and less damaging ways to treat acute asthma attacks. Currently the primary treatment for adults is with massive doses of oral/IV corticosteroids, which are never eliminated from the body and thus steadily build up and cause huge problems later for some patients, like me.

Perhaps, as your first waves of grief ease a bit, you can use your anger towards adult education - volunteer to talk to organizations and groups throughout your community about just how dangerous asthma can be, and what needs to be done and how quickly. Or like Meredith and her family, help raise funds in your community for research. Maybe you can work with your grandchildren’s schools to teach students, teachers and staff about what asthma is, how to recognize symptoms and what to do.

In the meantime, I hope you reach out to your own physician or your son’s to learn more about what happened, and how asthma can turn deadly so quickly. I also hope you consider a grief counselor - I’ve benefited greatly from such care and your doctor or a local psychology organization can help you find someone with the specialization.

In the meantime, we’re here. And AAFA has other resources and partner organizations you might find helpful. Please know you and your family will stay in my thoughts and prayers. Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.

Debbie

Hugs @Deborah367 -  my sincere condolences to you on the loss of your husband to this disease. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts. Your grief and anger is understandable. How can we help?

Deborah, I am incredibly sorry to hear of your family's recent loss of your son. What a horrible thing to endure and go through! My heart grieves for you and your family. No mother ever ought to have to go through what you've been through.

I can definitely understand your grief and your anger and your shock and bewilderment right now. 

I will be thinking of you and your family. We are here for you -- please feel free to start a new topic on our asthma support community so that we can offer our support as you go through the very difficult days ahead. If you would like, I can start one for you using your comment below. Just let me know. 

I lost my 40 year old son last week, a husband, father to three young sons, brother! And very loved son.  Last year at this time he was hospitalized and intubated to help him breath. When he started suffering very bad symptoms last weekend he was reluctant to go to the hospital for fear they would intubate him. By the time he realized how serious it was he collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest.  I am so broken and angry that he waited so long to try to get help.  It is very hard to function.  How do you go on from the loss.of a child?

Dear Meredith,

Thank you for so very much for sharing your son's story. My heart goes out to you and your family for the loss of your beautiful son and for turning his tragic loss into something positive that will help others living with asthma.  Those of us with children who have asthma thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Warmly,

Lynda

Meredith, you are truly an amazing mother.  The MyHope4Austin Organization will not only keep the legacy of your son alive but it will also help others who have asthma. Having a loved one transition to heaven isn’t easy and it takes a champion and a loving, caring, kind, unselfish spirit like yours to turn emotions into something positive, educational and thoughtful.

Thank you for sharing your story.  You and your family are always in my prayers.

Meredith, The MyHope4Austin organization is a wonderful way to honor your son’s kind and generous heart. Thank you for sharing your family’s story with us and for your work to increase asthma awareness and education in the community.

Gratefully,

Brenda

Thank you for sharing Austin's story. Meredith, you are an inspiration. What an amazing way to create a legacy for your son. I am confident that with your strength, spirit and desire to help others, the MyHope4Austin Organization will have a far-reaching impact as it continues to grow. Many hugs and blessings to you and your family, Meredith!

What an amazing way to honor Austin's memory by spreading awareness and education. Hugs to the Dodds family - your strength is amazing. 

What an incredible way to honor your beautiful son's life. Meredith, I am so inspired by your courage and strength to use this tragedy to bring awareness to others. You are one amazing mom. Thank you for sharing Austin's story, and yours. Blessings to your family as you work to protect the lives of other children with asthma in his honor.

I'm so sorry about your son leaving us.  I to don't get relief from inhalers.  I do need to comment on all those balloon releases, its really bad for our bird friends and causes a lot of pollution and danger to our wildlife.

I pray for the family and for all those suffering with allergies and asthma. It is difficult to live with every day. It is difficult to watch and care for someone living with it. I wish I could snap my fingers and cure us all. But, education and awareness does save lives and help. Planting (female, allergy-friendly trees) helps. And research helps. I am so sorry to the family of Austin and the community, you are in our prayers.

 To all the Asthma sufferers, remember, if you intend to plant a tree in honour of the Asthma sufferer like Austin, plant a 'female' tree. Why? Because we are planting, male clonal, pollen producing, Asthma causing, native or non-native trees.

Your "2018 Walk for Asthma Awareness", is again a great undertaking and to al participants, 'my hat goes of''. Support your AAFA, Asthma awareness.         "Together we are stronger".  

What a lovely and wonderful way to celebrate Austin's life! My heart breaks for this family, but I am so amazed at how they have given Austin's life meaning. From one mother to another, thank you for turning your grief into action!