WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsGilman teen starts support group for illness she deals with daily

Gilman teen starts support group for illness she deals with daily

Gilman (WQOW) - An area teen has taken on the task of putting together a support group for kids suffering from asthma in the Chippewa Valley.  Because of her efforts, beginning in April, there will be a place for asthma patients and their families to get educated, and meet others dealing with the same issues. 

Four years ago, Alaina Kvapil, was diagnosed as a Severe Allergic Asthmatic.  The attacks are so severe; she's been to the hospital 22 times since her diagnosis.

"I went from playing four sports a year and being really active in school and active with my friends to sitting at home or sitting in a hospital. There hasn't been a day that's gone by in the past four years that I haven't had an asthma attack." Alaina says.

Life has changed dramatically for Alaina.  She now sleeps in a recliner because lying down at night can be dangerous.   

She says, "It's so severe that I actually have to lay sitting up otherwise I just can't breathe at night and I can't sleep."

Because you can't see the symptoms on the outside, people have a hard time understanding the severity. 

"She can be having a really horrible day and still look fantastic, because you can't see what's going on inside the lungs" says Alaina's mom Christine.  

"I really just try to be myself around people. I don't like taking my inhaler in front of them because I feel like they give me different looks or they treat me differently because they realize I am having a hard time" says Alaina.  

Because of those reactions, Alaina wanted to start a support group, where people like her can come together.  She's now working with the Chippewa Asthma Coalition. 

Alaina says, "It's going to be for children and their parents to come in and be able to learn a little bit more about asthma, to understand it better, and to talk about their stories and how it's changed their lives."  

Through the support of her school, Alaina is on track to graduate in the spring and has high hopes for her future. 

"I want to go onto med school and become a lung specialist and work with children. I'm going to have asthma probably my whole life and I can't live my life being upset or mad about it. So I try taking a positive way towards in helping other people understand asthma better" Alaina says.  

The kickoff day to the family asthma support group will be April 16th at the Chippewa Falls Public Library from 6:30 – 8:00pm.  Anyone dealing with asthma, under the age of 18, is encouraged to attend with their family.

For more information, contact Marshfield Clinic or the Chippewa County Public Health Department.