Your stories

Your stories
How running the London Marathon helped me manage my grief - and why I’m doing it again
Laura Gilmore, a 37-year-old Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) from Prestwick near Glasgow, will be tackling the iconic TSC London Marathon for Asthma + Lung UK Scotland for the second time. She tells us how running helped managed her grief after losing her dad to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and why she’s fundraising in his memory.

Your stories
Genetic targeted therapy for lung cancer transformed my mother's life
In June 2020, Philomeena’s mum, Rita, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and she wondered how much time she had left. Now, in 2022, Philomeena shares the story of how she has cared for her beloved mother remotely, and how Rita is beating lung cancer.

Your stories
My battle for a COPD diagnosis – and what helped change my life
Speaking on World COPD Day, Katy Brown, 65, from Bristol, reveals how she struggled to get a COPD diagnosis during the pandemic, the challenges she faced and what has helped her through.

Your stories
Ask a researcher: How a simple blood test could be used to diagnose pulmonary fibrosis
Andy, aged 37, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in 2013. He is currently waiting for a lung transplant. Here he asks our researcher, Simon a few questions about his research into PF and how it could make a difference to others with the condition.

Your stories
Pneumonia almost left my young sons without their mum
After being struck down suddenly by pneumonia at 33 on her son’s third birthday, our supporter, Jardine ended up on life support. Here she tells us why she’s raising awareness this World Pneumonia Day, and why it’s so important.

Your stories
Stress caused my father to have a fatal asthma attack at 54. I was scared the same thing would happen to me.
Anita has first-hand experience of the impact stress can have on asthma, as her dad collapsed and died from a stress-induced asthma attack when she was a teenager. Anita, 49, who has asthma herself, changed her life to stop history repeating itself.

Your stories
No one should have to put their life on hold - why it’s critical we find out why asthma is worse for women
Living with a long-term lung condition can affect many aspects of your life. You’ll have physical symptoms, like getting out of breath and feeling tired. Lung conditions can also affect your mood, how you feel, and your ability to cope with daily life. This World Mental Health Day, we’ve pulled together some tips to help you to look after your mental health right now.

Your stories
How Asthma + Lung UK’s support groups have made me feel less alone
Mum of two, Rebecca Grandison’s son Wilf’s has severe asthma, which controls every aspect of his life. She says it’s hard for other parents to understand the challenges their family face. Here she tells us how connecting with other parents in our support group has been really helpful for her.

Your stories
Lisa, a Welsh scientist asks: Why is asthma worse for women?
Lisa Hall, 40, from Newport in Wales, was diagnosed with asthma shortly after giving birth to her son. She believes the hormonal changes following pregnancy and birth were responsible for her getting asthma and is campaigning for more research into this.

Your stories
Hormones made it impossible for me to control my severe asthma
Poppy, 30, from Stratford-Upon-Avon, spent every month fearing she would end up in hospital as her hormones had such a terrible effect on her asthma. Here she shares her story.

Your stories
Asthma didn’t stop me fulfilling my dream of climbing to Everest base camp
Paul has asthma and often struggles with symptoms when the seasons change. Here he talks about how he began cycling to help control his breathing and ended up climbing to Everest base camp!

Your stories
Remembering Nigel
IPF is a devastating condition where scar tissue, called fibrosis, builds up in the lungs. It’s a progressive disease, with many people having a prognosis of just two to three years of survival after diagnosis. Our supporter Becky Wood shares this moving poem that her dad Nigel wrote just days before he passed away from IPF in 2021.