From around the age of three, Taj’s colds almost always triggered a persistent cough that would linger for up to three weeks. Each day, the cough would worsen, often leaving him struggling to breathe and coughing nonstop.
Inevitably, Taj’s parents would take him to the doctor, where he was prescribed Redipred to help manage the symptoms. This cycle— requiring medical intervention to stop the cough—became a regular occurrence, happening 4-5 times a year.
”The cough would often keep Taj from going to school, staying active, or even enjoying everyday life. He’d end up on the couch for days, just trying to recover,” - Taj’s mum, Alissa.
“As a family, we’d limit going out and endure many sleepless nights, as the coughing always seemed worse at night.”
A Turning Point in Perth
After moving to Perth, the family began seeing a new GP. It wasn’t long before Taj’s coughing became so severe it caused blood vessels to burst in both his eyes. Concerned, the doctor suspected he had asthma and recommended they visit Respiratory Care WA for further testing and treatment.
At Respiratory Care WA’s Children’s Hub, Lung Function Testing confirmed that Taj had asthma. He was prescribed new medication and taught strategies to prevent and manage flare-ups.
“Being shown how to manage before, during and after his lengthy coughing episodes has been amazing. The information, techniques, new medication have made me, as a parent feel so much more confident in what I do. Taj has also got into a good routine of taking his medicine too.”
Taking Control & Thriving
“Life has definitely been easier since we visited Respiratory Care WA. By sticking to his daily Symbicort inhaler, we’ve avoided doctor visits and missed school days,” says Alissa.
“We feel more confident now. Whenever Taj starts coughing, I always refer back to the asthma plan we created at the clinic. If there is any advice, I can give to parents dealing with their child’s asthma, is to go in there and take all the advice you can get – it truly makes a difference.”
A Champion in the Making
Today, Taj is thriving. He can be found training and playing his favourite sport, AFL in the winter, where he enjoys playing alongside his mates as part of a team. Most recently, he was selected for the West Perth AFL Club Under 13’s academy squad and had the incredible opportunity to travel to Geelong for the national championships as part of the WA State Schoolboys team, where they finished third!
In the summer, Taj is busy with athletics, where he is also excelling. He has been selected to compete in the state relay championships for Under 13s, where his team came third in the 4x100m race.
Taj’s accomplishments are truly inspirational and the team at Respiratory Care WA is thrilled to see him living his best life.
