Asthma Canada Home
  • Get Help
    • Speak to an Expert
    • Check Your Asthma
    • Resources & Tools
    • Asthma Action Plans
    • Educational Webinars
    • Asthma Game for Kids
  • About Asthma
    • Understanding Asthma
    • Diagnosing Asthma
    • Living with Asthma
    • Controlling Asthma
    • Asthma Triggers
    • Severe Asthma
    • Children & Asthma
      • Educational Game for Kids
      • Resources for School
    • Allergies & Asthma
    • Wildfires & Asthma
    • Winter & Asthma
    • Vaccines & Asthma
    • A.C.T. on Asthma
  • About Us
    • Our Strategy
    • What We Do
      • Education
        • Asthma & Allergy HelpLine
      • Research
      • Advocacy
    • Our History
    • Our Staff
    • Our HelpLine Staff
    • Our Medical & Scientific Experts
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Research
    • Our Research Strategy
    • Our Research Programme
    • Research Publications
  • News & Updates
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Give
      • Make a Donation
      • Host a Fundraiser
      • Leave a Gift in Your Will
      • Gift of Securities
    • How Funding Helps
    • Corporate Partnerships
      • Our Partners
    • Share Your Story
      • Community Stories
    • Join ACMA
  • Donate

Instagram

Originally from France and now living in Toronto, Originally from France and now living in Toronto, Alissia Gesret’s family history has been shaped by asthma following the death of her uncle, Franck: “My family name is known in the paramedical field for a breakthrough in non-invasive asthma treatment. What led to that discovery, however, is rooted in tragedy. To understand it, you need to meet my uncle, Franck. To tell his story, I need to take you back to July 15th, 1974. This is not just any summer day. It is Franck’s tenth birthday. For the occasion, my father – Franck’s older brother – has organized everything. Friends and neighbors gather to celebrate. Franck runs, laughs, and plays like any other child his age. Later in the day, my father looks for his brother and finds him locked in the bathroom. Franck is using his inhaler, exhausted, trying to catch his breath after simply being a child. Between two puffs, he looks at my father and says, “You’re lucky you’re not sick.” Those words carve themselves into my father’s memory forever. Later that day, Franck’s parents are angry, he has used up all the inhalers. Franck is crying so hard that his breathing worsens. He is already gasping for air. He runs toward his bedroom but never reaches it. Franck collapses in the hallway. An asthma attack, followed by cardiac arrest. Because the family lives in the countryside, emergency responders arrive too late. Franck is pronounced dead at the hospital. I am grateful that Franck at least spent that day laughing, playing, and being surrounded by other children he loved, one last time. Franck’s story is one of countless stories shaped by asthma and trauma. But I choose to keep telling my uncle’s story. To advocate for him, and for the many children who are still fighting, every day, just to breathe.” Written by: @alissiagst | Full story on asthma.ca (link in story). #asthma #asthmastories
This Shingles Awareness Week, we’re encouraging pe This Shingles Awareness Week, we’re encouraging people living with asthma to learn more about shingles and how it can affect those with chronic respiratory disease. For more information, visit asthma.ca/vaccines. #asthma #shingles #ShinglesAwarenessWeek #ShinglesAwarenessWeek2026
A look back at 2025: throughout the later months o A look back at 2025: throughout the later months of the year, we launched Asthma the Roommate, a fresh campaign that personified asthma to help people recognize the signs of uncontrolled symptoms. The campaign encouraged our community to A.C.T. on Asthma: ✅ A – Assess your asthma with our new Asthma Self-Check ✅ C – Claim your free Asthma Control Pack ✅ T – Talk to your doctor about managing your asthma effectively See more of our work in 2025: https://asthma.ca/asthma-canadas-impact-in-2025/ #AsthmaCanadaImpact2025
A look back at 2025: during Asthma Awareness Month A look back at 2025: during Asthma Awareness Month, as part of our #ACTonAsthma campaign, we launched a national public service announcement (PSA) to help people recognize the signs of uncontrolled asthma. The PSA aired 9,519 times on TV across Canada, reaching new audiences and encouraging people to take a closer look at their asthma management. See more of our work in 2025: link in bio. #AsthmaCanadaImpact2025
Follow on Instagram

Helpful links

9

About Asthma

9

Get Help

9

Get Involved

9

FAQ

9

Resources

9

News & Updates

9

Careers & Volunteer Opportunities

Contact Us



124 Merton St. Unit 401 Toronto, ON M4S 2Z2



1-866-787-4050



info@asthma.ca

Charitable Registration Number:

89853-7048-RR0001

  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

Subscribe 

Sign-up to have the latest asthma news and information delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe

2026 © All Rights Reserved | Media | Privacy | Terms of Use