My son Alfie has brittle asthma and has suffered with this since he was six months old and last October nearly lost his life to this awful lung condition. Alfies life has consisted of many trips to the GP and James Paget hospital and lots of tests all his life and therefore has required things like magnesium, oxygen, frequent inhalers and many many steroids and so fourth. Alfie now has frequent visits to Addenbrookes to help get his asthma under control. It has been a long and difficult journey, very emotional at times for us all but we are so grateful to all that has helped us along the way so far, especially those mentioned above and we would like to now give something back.

Alfie is a real cheeky chap who has a huge love for the Earth and everything on it, he hates rubbish being littered everywhere which makes him very cross! He has said "rubbish being left on the floor makes Earth angry" and so we thought we can litter pick in August and fundraise so we can make the Earth cleaner whilst fundraising for the childrens ward 10 at James paget Hospital and Asthma UK.

I just want to go a little more into Alfies story. Before Alfie was born i honestly knew hardly anything about Asthma at all and until yourself or a loved one has it you really dont understand how serious this condition can be if its not under control. Alfie was six months old when he began getting symptoms, cough, wheeze, breathing fast and sometimes this came with a temperature and vomiting. At this stage nobody knew this was asthma and hospitals had put it down to bronchiolitis. Children generally cant be diagnosed with Asthma until they are alot older. Alfie was getting very poorly very often, each time requiring nebulisers and steroids. This was the point it was clear to me Alfie had Asthma. Alfie was then referred to the Asthma clinic at James paget Hospital to be properly diagnosed with asthma by the specialists there.

Alfie had finally been diagnosed. Alfie then had regular check ups with James paget asthma clinic every 3/4 months, sometimes the wait was longer. I spent so much time chasing up appointments, trying to get him in there as quickly as he can, because he desperately needed them. We went though so many inhalers, medications to help Alfie and nothing was helping him. At this point the doctors had done all they could for Alfie, and now the asthma clinic at James paget had done all they could for him too. They had done many blood tests, tested him for allergies, he had x-rays. I didnt know what to do next, where to turn for him. Our family helped us and purchased air purifiers, salt lamps, nebulisers. Anything to help us. At this point im researching into asthma night after night after night, looking for some kind of cure even though there isnt one out there but in hope I can get rid of this awful condition for him, I just needed to do something for him. I was desperate for something to come out to help us, to help our little boy.

Alfie at this point had been in hospital atleast once or twice a month, numerous GP appointments every month and his body had gotten so used to steroids he was needing more. Then last October the worst happened to us. Alfie came down poorly with a cough, it had upset his asthma he had ran under the table coughing and coughing and he then just collapsed in my arms. His lips went blue, he was limp, and he wasn't responding to us, his body was shutting down at this point. Waiting for the ambulance felt like a lifetime to us, it all went so slow. I honestly thought that was it. The ambulance crew came and he was put straight on oxygen, in the ambulance he had an injection of steroids in his thigh and they had defibrillators ready at the hospital incase he deteriorated worse.He spent two days in James Paget on oxygen throughout the night and was slowly weaned off, regular inhalers and magnesium. Since then we now have oximeters at home to keep an eye on his oxygen levels.

Then I phoned Asthma + Lung UK and they gave me advice and told me that Alfie needs to be seen in a Tertiary asthma centers in the UK who specialize in the care of severe asthma cases, offering advanced treatments and management strategies. I spoke with the GP and JPH and Alfie was the then referred to Cambridge university hospital. They saw Alfie the following month, again hes had many many blood tests, x-rays and so fourth. Hes tried many inhalers and these appointments here are still on-going. Alfie is responding well to his new inhaler and hasnt required oxygen for a few months now. Alfie has brittle asthma, he has to have his inhalers everywhere we go!

He really is my brave little boy and has been through so much in his little life.

Alfie will be keeping you all updated on his litter picking throughout August and no matter how little we would be extremely grateful and it will go so far in helping children like Alfie get the help they need.