For years, our family felt like we were simply surviving
— PayPay (mum to Charlotte, Lorelei and Harrison)
Every winter brought weeks of coughing, sleepless nights and constant worry. We cancelled birthday parties, changed family plans and often kept the kids home from school.
They missed valuable time learning, being with their friends and enjoying the everyday moments of school because they were simply too exhausted, and we knew their persistent cough would make it difficult for them and everyone else in the classroom.
We’d lie awake listening to them through the night, hoping they would finally settle, only to wake up exhausted and do it all again the next day.
As parents, it’s heartbreaking to watch your children struggle and not know how to make them better. Every time they breathed, talked or ate, it would trigger another coughing fit. You could see it taking its toll on them. They had so little energy, and little by little, they stopped doing the things they loved.
We were told they would grow out of it, so we waited. But the years passed, and nothing changed. We found ourselves constantly visiting doctors and hospitals, trying antibiotics, steroids, puffers and anything else that might help.
”We weren't looking for miracles, we just wanted our children to be able to breathe, sleep and enjoy being kids again.”
The hardest part was the guilt. We questioned every decision and wondered if we should have pushed harder for answers sooner. Looking back now, we realise we were doing everything we could with the information we had, but at the time it felt like we were constantly guessing.
It touched every part of our lives
The coughing didn’t just affect our children’s health it touched every part of family life.
The children were tired all the time, struggled to concentrate at school and began holding back from the sports they loved. We were always on edge, wondering if someone was about to get sick again. Just as one child recovered, another would start coughing, and the cycle would begin all over again.
For our son Harrison, who has cerebral palsy, it was especially difficult. Because he has limited language, it wasn’t always easy for him to tell us what he was feeling. He already faces enough challenges, and we just wanted him to enjoy the same opportunities as every other child.
Being finally heard
Coming to Respiratory Care WA was a turning point for our family.
Meeting Dr Oo, Dr Wilson and the team gave us something we hadn’t had for a very long time—confidence. Even though we were still finding answers, we finally had a clear plan, practical advice and people who genuinely cared about helping our family.
For the first time, we felt like we weren’t facing it alone.
Watching our children shine again
Within weeks of starting treatment, we began noticing little changes that soon became big ones.
”The coughing settled. Everyone started sleeping better. The kids had more energy, laughed more and slowly became themselves again. The constant worry that had filled our home started to fade.”
It felt strange in the best possible way, not having to listen for coughing every few minutes or wonder who would be sick next.
Charlotte loves that she can concentrate better at school and enjoy tennis without coughing through a match.
“I can sleep better now, so I have more energy,” she says.
Lorelei feels more confident too.
“I can play tennis without worrying all the time if I’m going to need my puffer.”
And for Harrison, having his asthma under control has meant one less hurdle to overcome.
“I can run and play,” he says.
Seeing all three of our children doing the things they love without fear means more than words can say.
We have our family back
We are most grateful that our children can simply be children again.
They’re sleeping well. They’re healthier. They’re running, playing, laughing and enjoying life. We’re no longer making constant trips to the doctor or hospital, and that weight we’ve carried for so long has finally started to lift.
Life is still busy just like any family, but now it’s filled with so much more joy than worry.
We truly feel like we’re living our lives again.
If there’s one message we’d share with other parents, it’s this: don’t give up.
Keep asking questions. Trust your instincts. Seek another opinion if you need one, and don’t be afraid to ask for a referral.
”There are people who want to help, and finding the right support can make all the difference not just for your child's health, but for your whole family.”
