06/05/2026
“Mam, I feel sick…when I dived into the water, my legs felt like lead.”
For Madeline from Cork City, asthma has always been part of her son Garvan’s life, but last year brought one of their most frightening experiences.
Garvan, now 15, loves swimming and swims competitively. Known for his dedication and discipline, he has built a strong reputation in the pool, making what happened last year all the more difficult.
“He always had a bad chest when he was younger,” Madeline says. “He also had a severe milk allergy until he was about 10, so it was often hard to know — is this asthma, or is it an allergic reaction?”
Over the years, Garvan has had multiple asthma attacks and has been hospitalised a number of times, often following a cold or flu.
Last spring, things took a serious turn.
Garvan had travelled to Dublin to compete in s swimming competition. While he was there with his dad, Madeline received a photo that immediately concerned her.
“He looked very pale. I knew straight away something wasn’t right.”
Then came the message: “Mam, I feel sick… when I dived into the water, my legs felt like lead.”
When Garvan returned home, they went straight to the doctor. He was prescribed antibiotics and steroids, but days passed with little improvement.
“After four or five days, he still wasn’t better. By the fifth day, he was struggling to breathe.”
Madeline didn’t hesitate.
“We went straight to A&E.”
Garvan was diagnosed with pneumonia.
“It was very scary,” she says. “You just feel helpless as a parent.”
Recovery was slow, and questions remained.
About a week later, looking for guidance, Madeline contacted the Asthma Society of Ireland’s Asthma Adviceline.
“That call made such a difference,” she says. “Getting advice and being able to talk things through gave us clarity and reassurance.”
Since then, they’ve seen a real improvement in how Garvan manages his asthma, and in his recovery overall.
And, most importantly, Garvan has returned to doing what he loves.
After recovering from pneumonia, he went on to achieve success in the pool — a remarkable comeback after such a serious illness.
Today, he is back training and competing in various regional and national competitions.
But the challenges don’t end there.
“It can be difficult to get GP appointments,” Madeline explains. “Sometimes we have to rely on out-of-hours services, and that can be worrying in terms of continuity of care.”
Having access to expert advice when they need it has been invaluable.
“It’s great being able to call the Adviceline for that advice,” she says.
Garvan’s story is a powerful reminder that while asthma can be unpredictable and serious, with the right support, young people can continue to achieve — and continue in sports they love.
This Asthma Awareness Week, Michele and Garvan are sharing their story to highlight the reality of childhood asthma and the impact it has on families across Ireland.
If you’re supporting a child with asthma, help is always available:
📞 Free Asthma Adviceline: 1800 44 54 64
💻 Childhood Asthma Resource Hub: https://asthma.ie/
Our 2026 Asthma Awareness Week campaign is kindly supported by ALK and GSK.
