Here's how a teenager took charge of his asthma
MANILA, Philippines – Aside from being a physical drawback, asthma can also affect a person psychologically and emotionally. For everyone who suffers from asthma, the disease can lead to reduced activity, school absences, ER visits and hospitalizations.
But Christian Lacza says asthma should not be a hindrance to being achiever.
For this year’s GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Search for Winners Against Asthma, two youngsters stood out to inspire asthma sufferers that they too can win against asthma. One of whom is Lacza, a student from Navotas City, the grand prize winner for the youth category.
“When I was young, my asthma attacks were so severe that my mother would have to bring me to the hospital almost weekly,” he said as he recalls how his childhood was affected by asthma.
“All I could remember during my early childhood were the trips to the hospital. Sometimes, if mahaba ang line dun sa isang pediatrician, we would have to go pa to a different hospital to see my other doctor. I couldn’t play outside our house, and the only time I actually got to experience playing like a kid was when we moved to Laguna,” he added.
Because of the frequent attacks, Christian realized and accepted the fact that he cannot excel in physical activities. Rather, he has to discover and focus on his other strengths to make up for his physical limitations.
“Instead of letting asthma stop me, I stopped asthma from interfering with my life as I pushed myself as a holistic learner - excelling in academics, student leadership and in various competitions,” he explained.
Christian is one of the 2014 Kabayan Ten Outstanding Public School Students, and 2014 Ten Outstanding Youth Leaders of Navotas City.
He also was an awardee of the 2010 Gawad Huwarang Kabataan of the Antolin Oreta Sr. Foundation and Gawad Modelong Kabataan: Galing at Dangal ng Malabon of the Arnold Vicencio Foundation.
In addition, he is recognized as the youngest recipient of the Orator of the Year Award in Navotas National High School.
According to Christian, he wants to be a lawyer to fulfill a promise he made to his dad before he passed away. And having an asthma served a motivation to reach his goal even more.
“I can't be so ideal to say that I will not be where I am because of asthma. Maybe, asthma just contributed to my drive and helped me to direct my focus. I mean, without asthma, I could've engaged in many activities, thus making me out of focus. Asthma made me realize my strength and focus in it,” Christian said.
In his own words: “Asthma it is not a disadvantage itself. Somehow, having asthma gave more meaning to everything I’ve achieved so far. Na parang even the small successes have more meaning kasi nga there’s an added level of difficulty because of asthma. Kaya if you succeed, iba talaga yung feeling.”
“Like I mentioned in my entry, Asthma do not kill people, people kill themselves, not literally of course. But if you let asthma take control of your life, you won’t be able to do anything. What you have to do is learn how to control it, get treatment and eventually conquer and win against it, kas if you get the technique and manage your disease, wala kang hindi kayang gawin.”
