Doctor Paula

Childrens Hospital Of Philadelphia

May 19, 2001 is the day that will always be remembered in my mind. I was in first grade and it seemed as if my life was going just as everyone else’s. I went to school that day and it was just like any other day that year. I remember coming home feeling a little sick but nothing too severe. Little did I know, it would be the day that I met my hero, who changed my life forever. I went to bed that night still feeling a little sick. About two AM I woke up to my mom’s voice. I didn’t know what was happening but she told me to get up and go to the car. I did what she said, and went straight to the car. I was quickly driven down to the hospital near my home. Not knowing what was going on at all, I walked into the emergency room with my mom. I remember her getting asked a lot of questions as they put me in a wheel chair and took me straight to the back room. I knew where I was but I didn’t know what was going to happen to me. Fear was the only thing that I could feel.

I was admitted into Delaware County Memorial Hospital but soon was taken out. After being in there for the night they decided to take me to Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia or more commonly known as CHOP. I didn’t know what was going on and I was scared to death. My mom had told me I was having an asthma attack, but being only six, I didn’t know what that meant at all. She explained that little pockets in my lungs had closed making it very difficult for me to breathe. I was scared that I would never be able to do the things I used to do. I was afraid that I wouldn’t make it out of the hospital the way I had been before. Hearing what was going on put a bad picture in my mind, one that told me I was going to be different from every other kid for the rest of my life. Being in there made me scared and upset but that’s when I met my hero, Doctor Paula.

I remember her walking into the room to meet with me. She introduced herself and started to give me my medicine. She started to talk to me about what was happening, assuring me I would be fine. I was still a little scared not knowing what I was going through. She told me the medicine would heal me, but I would live with this disease for the rest of my life. Hearing that scared me, I had no knowledge of this disease and didn’t even understand how I had gotten it. My older brother Eric had gotten diagnosed with it a couple years before, but he seemed to be braver. I didn’t know what was going on at all, and I didn’t know how I was going to end up. I had gotten to know Doctor Paula a little bit and she then became my regular doctor while I stayed at CHOP.

She had really helped me because of the strength she gave. Paula would help me through what was the hardest time of my life; she helped me feel reassured everyday. Hearing her and my mom tell me I was going to be okay really helped me get through it. Everyday being hooked up to various machines giving me many medications was scary to me. She however helped me make it through. I became very weak in the hospital and couldn’t do much anymore; the medicine I was taking had made my whole body weak. It took a lot of strength and time to get back to the little everyday stuff I used to do. Simply walking from my bed to the door was a major challenge for me. Walking and breathing at the same time had become the hardest thing I ever had to do. She made me really feel strong and believe that I could overcome what was happening. She truly is my life long hero.

I truly believe having Doctor Paula there helped me recover from my disease. She helped me have the strength to continue to stay strong. With a disease like asthma, it wasn’t like I could get right back out and continue what I was doing. I couldn’t do much on my own anymore, and depended on others for a lot of help. I had to recover and I had to continue treatments at home. I still have to take many medicines to keep it under control. Sometimes when I get sick, I get scared it will happen all over again but the strength that she gave me has really helped. She had helped me get through a very tough time in my life and I’m very thankful that I had her there, she is my true hero.