Introduction

Welcome to the first posting of “Breathe This Life,” my personal story of overcoming breathing challenges to live passionately. I am happy that you found my blog and hope you continue to follow my journey. Before I begin doling out random messages of encouragement, it seems sensible to explain a bit about my past so you may understand my perspective on life.

As a child, I had to undergo a series of operations to fix serious heart defects. At a critical time when my left lung collapsed and my body was having difficulty responding to the corrective surgeries, I was put on hospice….I survived. At age six I became a Make-A-Wish kid. While the heart surgeries were necessary to keep me alive, the result left me with permanent breathing challenges.

Growing up, I would join the neighborhood boys for cul-de-sac pickup games of basketball, soccer, football; join school basketball teams; go on family camping trips; even hike the Narrows in Zion National Park. All these activities were undertaken at a slower pace or by taking rest stops, a necessity I would later learn was caused by low oxygenation of the blood. Once this problem was identified, the doctors prescribed supplemental oxygen tanks, allowing me to live on my own, maintain a part-time job and take college classes.

Through the course of events, such as several trips to the ICU for pneumonia, breathing challenges grew, as did my need for supplemental oxygen. Limited in my activity level, I found myself reexamining the goals in my life. I gained a new, unique outlook where I feel fiercely protective of the under appreciated while common worries seem less significant. It is through this journey of realization and self-discovery that I am writing this blog, in hopes of connecting with those who share similar interests and challenges. In explaining how I adapted to my own health issues, perhaps my writing will help others find inspiration and live out their own idea of happiness. To feel valued. It is also important to me going forward that you know my intentions to inspire and encourage are genuine.

~Breathe Easy~