It started as just a cold. By Monday, Maya was fighting for her life.
“She’s slipping away.”
Patrycja will never forget those words.
Her daughter Maya was just eight when a simple cold turned into a life-threatening asthma attack in a matter of hours. By the time they reached their GP, Maya’s oxygen levels had dropped to just 62% and she was starting to lose consciousness.
“I didn’t know anything about asthma,” Patrycja says. “No one in our family had it. I was schocked.”
Thanks to quick action from their GP, Maya was stabilised and spent three days in hospital. But the experience left a lasting impact on the whole family.
Looking for help, Patrycja turned to the Asthma Society of Ireland.
Through the Asthma Adviceline, she found expert support when she needed it most. “It’s been a lifeline,” she says. “Knowing I can speak to a nurse anytime gives me peace of mind.”
Today, Maya is 10 and back doing what she loves – dancing, football and GAA.
But Patrycja knows how close they came.
Asthma can escalate quickly and become life-threatening without warning.
With your support, we can be there for more families like Maya’s, providing trusted advice, reassurance, and life-saving support.
In 2025, we supported thousands of people through our Adviceline and WhatsApp services – helping families manage asthma with confidence. In fact, 91% of users say their asthma improved after speaking to our asthma nurse.
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