Birthday spoiler

Name of student

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Date
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Introduction

In as much as diseases are inevitable in human life, I never anticipated the first yet life-

changing asthma attack on my birthday.

The spoiler, which seemed to have been insidious and progressively dangerous, was well

prepared to catch me unawares. The twelfth day of September of the year two thousand and

seventeen was not going to be like any other. Despite the morning chills, the zeal to prove a point

before the sun could light up the sky seemed strengthened my muscles and energized my heart. It

was usual for this neighborhood to see people exerciser in the morning. On this fateful Tuesday

morning, six Oclock found me rushing straight to the physical exercise field, The Marine

stadium; a few blocks away from home.

The timing of the sprinting contest between me and Erick on my birthday as well as the

venue was as planned.

I did not even jog. I would rather endure the choking stench of the carpet than waste some

joules. I sat three yards away from the racing track waiting for Erick to turn up. The

multipurpose stadium was not that small after all. Five thousand spectators could be housed by

the robust blue and white chairs positioned strategically to spot every player on the green

carpeted field. Down here, the field looked like an oval tent with an opened round top. I watched

a dozen of Marin footballers rehearse their bit to maintain their title as king of soccer in in our

division. Tickled, I quickly turned back and behold it was Erick.

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It was fast and unprecedented series of events almost in the blink of an eye.

We clenched onto our marks and could observe protruded lean quadriceps transform the outlook

of Erick's yellow tracksuit. Was he flexing? Well, I seemed to have stacked some fat thighs in

my orange tracksuit but I flaunted my huge gluteus. It was a two hundred meter contest and I had

to win. For once I imagined myself being Hussein Bolt blazing the trail of world athletes and the

distance looked shorter than it really was. A tall black guy with vivid weight build muscles

offered to be our referee. It was half-past six by my Casio watch and the six-pack giant whistled

as a go sign. Erick was two yards ahead in the first thirty meters but my momentum picked and

weight propulsion gave me a due advantage hence passed him after about seventy meters. As

paused by Hussein Bolt, there exist better starters but it is only the first finisher that matters. It

was over and I had done it (Solberg & Gratton, 2013).

Apart from my opponent, there were a dozen football players doing their morning drill

who became our spectators and later my helpers.

They were all clapping in applause and Erick conceded defeat. My pulse was exploding and my

chest went tight. All of a sudden the atmosphere was out of air for my respiration. I heaved fast

and heavy and experienced a slight rhinorrhea. Wheezing ensured in quick succession. I jumped

a step and grabbed a goal post. It was muscular enough to bear my weight but had no energy

ounce left to hold. I fell down with a thud that Erick described later as ground shaking

amplification of my raced footsteps. A dry cough followed and could feel my breathing tubes

collapse.

Reactions were a mixture of phenomena that were more of pathological than physiological.

It gave me the shock of my life. A seemingly uncontrollable dry cough perplexed me. The

ringing sensation in my ears and dyspnea was unbearable. Help! screamed Erick. Am John,
 BIRTHDAY SPOILER 4

your friend is having an attack, allow me to put him in the recovery position," a voice went. All

the players surrounded the goal post as though a corner was being passed. I could see the liquid

dilated eyes of Erick as he breathed loudly. He was panting too.

Handling the situation was typical of a medical emergency

The dyspnea was worsening and nothing in the first Aid kit brought by John who happened to be

the team doctor seemed helpful. All he had were analgesic tablets, pain sprays, gels, liniments,

and bandages. Their kit was designed to handle injuries. They were out of options. Nevertheless,

they tried leaving enough space for me to inhale and exhale by standing one side. The cough

continued and I now produced a wheezing sound suggestive of a squeezed chest. I had to be

rushed to a hospital.

It did not end as planned. I could not celebrate my accomplishment of the race in the field

rather, in a hospital.

The cough could not stop and I was out of breath and everyone was bothered. I do not know how

I got to the nursing room of our family nurse. It is alright Ernest now. I gave you two puffs of

Ventolin Inhaler. You were having an Asthma attack that was induced by your exercise.

Symptoms include chest tightness, wheezing cough, and difficulty in breathing as you can read

in Currie & Baker, 2012. By the way: congratulations on winning the race against Erick. He

will be in shortly, explained Sister Mary.

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I learned the most important first aid tips for asthma attacks. Anyone can get asthma but

exercise asthma is unique in its etiology.

Exercise asthma is a common medical condition that can be managed. Flowering during spring

fills the air with allergens like pollen grains which exacerbate chances of having an attack

(Currie & Baker, 2012). Luckily, however, it can be managed. I was reading a poster in the

nursing room and could not notice Erick come in with my parents carrying a huge cake. It was

about thirty centimeters in diameter and ten more centimeters high with my name colorfully

embossed on It. "Happy Birthday Ernest!" They sung. Mum was, of course, the loudest in

soprano.

Today I understand my health condition better and can sprint without fear.

The condition is resolving after almost a fortnight of the salbutamol inhaler. I understand the

stimuli and have embarked on sensitization. I cannot help calling it a birthday spoiler.
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References

Currie, G. P., & Baker, J. F. (2012). Asthma. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Solberg, H., & Gratton, C. (2013). Broadcasting the Olympics. Managing the Olympics, 147-

164. doi:10.1057/9780230389588_9
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