May 5, 2008
Asthma Camp Father Dives Into the Fight Against Lung Disease
Like any good father, Victor Chavez wants only the best for his children. He’d do anything to ensure that they grow up happy and healthy, and that’s included helping his children deal with their asthma. But unlike every other parent, Victor has put a personal stake into fighting the lung disease.
Victor’s three children were all diagnosed with asthma when they were less than one-year-old. While it affects them off-and-on throughout the year, the fall has proven most troublesome. As the weather changes, the kids’ symptoms appear more frequently and severely, often leading to a number of sleepless nights and missed school days. The attacks were once so severe that Victor’s eldest son, Mikey, had to be taken in an ambulance from school to the hospital after he had trouble breathing and his face turned purple.
Anxious to bring their children’s symptoms under control, Victor and his wife, Michelle, were intrigued when their doctor told them about Breathe California’s asthma camp last year. After learning more about the organization’s summer day camp, they thought it was worth a shot and signed up Mikey and his twin siblings, Victor and Christine.
“We thought this would be a fun way to teach them about asthma and why it affects them the way it does,” recalled Michelle.
“I didn’t want my kids to feel inferior or inadequate because they have asthma,” added Victor, “and camp would provide a place for them to meet other kids with asthma.”
After just one week at camp, Victor and Michelle could see the benefits. After learning how to recognize their triggers and warning signs, the kids have been able to more closely monitor their condition. This also helps Victor and Michelle stay prepared for a possible attack instead of being grabbed by surprise.
While the kids must still deal with their asthma, the Chavezs are grateful for the ways in which the camp helped the whole family confront those challenges. So, this spring, Victor Chavez Gardening donated $2,000 in services for Breathe California to use in a fundraiser. The generous contribution will help support the organization’s wide array of local programs – services that, as Victor is well aware, can make all the difference in the world. And ultimately, he hopes that it will help even more kids confront their asthma.
“I hope this helps many other families experience asthma camp,” said Victor. “It’s such a valuable program because it has activities that kids can relate to and shows them that they are not the only ones with asthma.”
Learn more about our special fundraising opportunity with Victor Chavez Gardening.