Growing up, Hayley Fialkowski always thought her brother's asthma was something unique, almost cool. But when she found herself struggling to breathe during sports at age 12, Hayley quickly realised how scary asthma could be.
In mid-2022, Hayley caught Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. For Hayley, though, this simple infection led to extended time off school. What worried her most was how it began affecting her favourite activities, especially sports.
“I was scared something bad might happen if I kept playing sports, especially running,” Hayley recalls. “After every race, I’d end up crying because I couldn’t catch my breath. I was terrified.”
After months of watching her daughter struggle, Hayley’s mum, Jordan, suspected asthma might be the culprit. But it wasn’t so obvious. “Asthma can look different for everyone,” Jordan explains. “It didn’t show up the same way it did in my son, so I didn’t realise Hayley could have it too.”
It wasn’t until a flare-up during a family holiday that Jordan decided to take Hayley to the GP. The doctor spotted signs of asthma and suggested a preventer inhaler. While it helped at first, Hayley continued to experience flare-ups, leaving her and her mum looking for more answers.
That’s when they found Respiratory Care WA. “Mum set up a video consult with a Respiratory Care WA Educator,” Hayley says. “We talked about how to manage my asthma during sports, how to use my inhaler correctly, and we got advice on my Asthma Action Plan.”
Jordan adds, “The education we received was amazing. Everything was so well explained, not just for Hayley, but for me too. The Educator was so knowledgeable and really made us feel confident.”
After three sessions with Respiratory Care WA, Hayley and her family felt ready to manage her asthma. Now in high school, Hayley is thriving in sports like basketball, swimming, AFL, and athletics. “I’m loving AFL right now—I’m in my second year and really improving from last season!” Hayley says with excitement. “I feel confident in my health, and I know that as long as I take my Ventolin and pay attention to my symptoms, I’ll be okay. It’s great that Mum knows so much more about asthma now too, so she’s always there to support me.”
Hayley’s story is a powerful reminder that asthma doesn’t have to hold kids back. With the right diagnosis and care, children with asthma can lead full, active lives. Respiratory Care WA offers personalised services, including bulk-billed lung function testing, education, and health advice, to help families manage asthma effectively.
Respiratory Care WA now accepts self-referrals for their integrated respiratory hub. Find out more today.
