Twelve-year-old Delilah first attended Respiratory Care WA’s Children’s Respiratory Hub when she was six, after she was admitted into hospital following an asthma emergency.
Delilah and her grandmother Coleen both live with asthma in the Midwest town of Northampton, where specialised asthma services are difficult to access.
Coleen said Delilah’s first visit to the Children’s Respiratory Hub was an eye-opening experience.
“I took Delilah down to the Asthma Hub to see a doctor and the team who were doing lung function testing. That really opened my eyes because I never even knew what lung function testing was. It was really fascinating to see and hear what they were doing,” says Coleen.
Coleen said Respiratory Care WA’s Respiratory Health team assisted her and Delilah in many ways during their journey.
“Firstly, they’ve helped a lot with the medication and how to administer the medication. Second is all the support they give us – all the information they have.”
Delilah said she always felt comfortable visiting the Respiratory Care WA Children’s Respiratory Hub.
“I feel like it will make me improve and I feel comfortable and feel like I have no reason not to be.”
Delilah is now able to play sport at school again and has not been admitted to hospital since she first visited Respiratory Care WA.
Coleen said the most important thing to do when you have children with asthma is to never miss an appointment.
“Always make sure you come to your appointments. We always come down for them because it’s important for me and it’s important for her, for both of us, to have the education.”