{"id":5835,"date":"2025-09-28T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=5835"},"modified":"2025-10-01T21:33:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T21:33:46","slug":"my-sister-thought-her-asthma-was-cured-and-left-her-inhaler-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/28\/my-sister-thought-her-asthma-was-cured-and-left-her-inhaler-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"My sister thought her asthma was cured and left her inhaler at home"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Lily\t<\/div>
Zoe (left) had gone into cardiac arrest after suffering a massive asthma attack (Picture: Lily Nunn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Grabbing my younger sister\u2019s lifeless hand, a lump caught in my throat. <\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m so sorry,\u2019 the doctor whispered. \u2018But she\u2019s not going to make it.\u2019 <\/p>\n

It was May 2022 and, less than 24 hours earlier, Zoe \u2013 a second-year politics student at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge \u2013 had gone clubbing with some friends<\/a> in the city centre. <\/p>\n

The night, as I understand it, had been pretty standard, filled with dancing and drinking. But then Zoe had collapsed in the<\/a> toilets. <\/p>\n

She was found unconscious in a cubicle by nightclub security, who called the emergency services. The paramedics got her to the hospital, then the police blue-lit my <\/strong>mum and dad from their home in Ipswich to be by her side in the early hours of the morning. <\/p>\n

Zoe had gone into cardiac arrest after suffering a massive asthma attack<\/a>. And she would never recover. <\/p>\n

Zoe was four years younger than me and we couldn\u2019t have been more different. While I was calm and quiet, she was emotional, exuberant and felt everyone\u2019s hurt as if it was her own \u2013 she couldn\u2019t stand unfairness or suffering, even as a child. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Lily\t<\/div>
I always used to say we were \u2018sisters who are also best friends\u2019 (Picture: Lily Nunn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And yet, we had an incredible bond.  <\/p>\n

I always used to say we were \u2018sisters who are also best friends<\/a>\u2019, which I thought was cute but she thought was cringey because she was younger and infinitely cooler than me.  <\/p>\n

We loved time together, going to the cinema, going out for lunch, wandering around art galleries but also just being at home. I loved her company; she made me a funnier, happier, more carefree version of myself.  <\/p>\n

I suppose part of the reason we were so close was because of her asthma. I\u2019d never had it myself, but seeing my sister fight for each breath, hearing her wheeze every time she picked up a virus or a cold made me extra protective.  <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Lily\t<\/div>
When Mum (second to left) called me to explain what had happened, her voice was shaking (Picture: Lily Nunn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At times it could be scary, especially when, as a teenager, she was hospitalised twice as a result of serious asthma attacks<\/a>. I was so scared that there was a possibility she would die. I didn’t think I would cope without her in my life.  <\/p>\n

That\u2019s why it had been a relief to see that, in the last few years of her life, her asthma had not only stabilised, but had practically disappeared. Or so we\u2019d thought.  <\/p>\n

When Mum called me to explain what had happened, her voice was shaking. She could barely get the words out, each one tripping over the next, but I just about made out what she said. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Lily\t<\/div>
In the last few years of her life, her asthma had not only stabilised, but had practically disappeared (Picture: Lily Nunn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Not responsive,\u2019 she\u2019d mumbled. \u2018Didn\u2019t have her inhaler<\/a>.\u2019   <\/p>\n

I dropped everything and raced to Zoe\u2019s side but it was too late.  <\/p>\n

My feisty, fervent sister, who had dreams of going to Edinburgh to study investigative journalism and of being prime minister one day, would never regain consciousness. She was gone. <\/p>\n

Following her wishes to be an organ donor,<\/a> we said goodbye to her the next day \u2013 it was the hardest thing I\u2019ve had to do and a shadow of disbelief and the deepest sorrow shrouded us all. <\/p>\n

She was only 20. How could this be happening? <\/em> <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Lily\t<\/div>
In the weeks and months that followed, my misery and fury flared (Picture: Lily Nunn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Those next few weeks were a blur but I do remember that her funeral was the perfect send off, albeit too soon. <\/p>\n

We played songs from her favourite band, Fleetwood Mac<\/a>, and everyone wore bright colours too. Those flamboyant shades of purples, pinks and reds were Zoe to a tee: loud, proud, and exuberant. <\/p>\n

In the weeks and months that followed, my misery and fury flared: Why hadn\u2019t Zoe looked after her asthma? How could she have been so careless when she knew she was vulnerable? <\/p>\n

I knew it was partly the grief talking, but as a nurse, I just couldn\u2019t understand it.  <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Lily\t<\/div>
It\u2019s now been three and a half years since we lost Zoe (centre) (Picture: Lily Nunn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eventually though, that anger soon softened into empathy and I told myself that, if her asthma hadn\u2019t been bothering her, I could see why it had fallen from her mind.  <\/p>\n

Still, I couldn\u2019t help wondering if her death could have been preventable.   <\/p>\n

It\u2019s now been three and a half years since we lost Zoe and a lot has changed \u2013 I now have a beautiful daughter, Nadia, and she reminds me so much of Zoe. Just like her aunt, my girl never stops talking. <\/p>\n

The one thing that hasn\u2019t changed though is our lack of answers. We\u2019ll never know what triggered her fatal attack<\/a>, or whether she\u2019d have survived if she\u2019d had her inhaler with her that night. <\/p>\n

However, as a family, we\u2019re determined not to let another young person lose their life like Zoe. It\u2019s why we\u2019re working with the charity Asthma + Lung UK<\/a> to raise awareness of the importance of proper asthma care. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Lily\t<\/div>
Zoe\u2019s (left) friends didn\u2019t even realise she had asthma (Picture: Lily Nunn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to the charity, the chances of a young person having an asthma attack triples between the end of summer and autumn with students at greater risk due to the increased exposure to triggers like viruses, vapour, smoke, and alcohol. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important for students, especially first year Freshers, to take extra care. Tell your housemates, make sure you have an asthma action plan and get your inhalers checked. <\/p>\n

Zoe\u2019s friends didn\u2019t even realise she had asthma and might not have known what to do even if her condition hadn\u2019t deteriorated as quickly as it did. It\u2019s important to be open about asthma and to know what to do if you have a friend or flatmate with a diagnosis.  <\/p>\n

I\u2019d also urge anyone leaving home for the first time to register with a local GP. That way, if you have a medical issue, you can get seen quickly.  <\/p>\n

Being prepared doesn\u2019t cost much \u2013 and it might just save someone\u2019s life.  <\/p>\n

Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tComment now<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zoe (left) had gone into cardiac arrest after suffering a massive asthma attack (Picture: Lily Nunn) Grabbing my younger sister\u2019s lifeless hand, a lump caught in my throat.  \u2018I\u2019m so sorry,\u2019 the doctor whispered. \u2018But she\u2019s not going to make it.\u2019  It was May 2022 and, less than 24 hours earlier, Zoe \u2013 a second-year […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5837,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5835"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5835"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5835\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5845,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5835\/revisions\/5845"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}