For most of Adrienne Lam’s early life, asthma played a huge role in determining what she could and couldn’t do.

“I can’t. I can’t join the cross-country team. I can’t play the flute. I have asthma.

I have had asthma for as long as I can remember. Up until the age of 13, a cold was never just a cold. A 20-minute walk in the winter cold could mean having to pull out my rescue inhaler. The yearly school beep test was dreaded. Almost any respiratory infection would trigger an asthma exacerbation; and on many occasions, a trip to the emergency room. I would miss out on weeks of school at a time, and thus unable to participate in many school activities and spend time with peers. Combined with my life-threatening peanut and treenut allergies and severe eczema, I always felt as if I were different from my peers at school, because I had so many medical issues I had to continuously manage.

My personal experiences have instilled in me a deep commitment to improving asthma education and support, including for caregivers, schools, those facing socioeconomical barriers in access to healthcare and the general population. I am now working with Asthma Canada and am involved with many aspects of patient education, program development and implementation, research, and I am a member of the Asthma Canada Member Alliance (ACMA).

I’m particularly interested in educating children, so they feel empowered and develop the necessary self-advocacy skills. I believe that had I had proper education and understanding of asthma as a child, including proper management, I’d be more confident in partaking in the many extracurricular activities at school such as trying out for the cross country team and joining the school band.

During the Covid 19 Pandemic, I began to slowly, but consistently run and I worked my way to joining the University of Toronto Run Club, where I’m grateful to have met so many incredible friends; people I would not have met had I still limited myself in running because I had asthma. I even conquered the challenge of running a 10k (and crushed my PB) last summer.

The most important lesson I learned, and what I want others to take away, is that Asthma doesn’t have to stand in the way of pursuing one’s interests or passions. With proper diagnosis and management, asthma shouldn’t limit you from experiencing the many joys of life. I encourage others to share their story because it provides hope, spreads awareness, and inspires others to get involved.

These days, I’m training for the TCS Waterfront half-marathon in October. I would’ve never thought I’d be able to run a 10k. Because of my asthma I really didn’t think I could do it.

My next goal? Learn to play the saxophone.”

– Adrienne Lam

If you have questions on managing your asthma and allergies during wildfire season, please contact our free HelpLine at 1-866-787-4050 or info@asthma.ca. Our team of asthma and allergy experts will happily assist you with your asthma control and help put your mind at ease.