atziry ocampo

along all other medical issues and with no videos for triggers:

i had my first attack 8 years ago. what felt like a heart attack left me unable to speak or move while on a run by myself. doctors did not seem too concerned with my health and provided medicine which never seemed to help.

breathing soon became a privilege to me. all physical activity i completed placed me into constant pain and attacks. soccer and exercise became something i dreaded.

my 1 attack per game quickly escalated into 1-5 attacks per game. one sprint would immediately convert my lungs into a tiny straw. sharp chest pain, lightheadedness, and shakiness became my new normal. no one knew what was wrong with me and my condition became a part of my identity.

as horrible as it sounds, there were certain attacks that made me think i’d lay down and wouldn’t get back up. i lost my athletic confidence and never saw a point in improving my skill if i couldn’t last on the field.

apart from the athletic world, the pain took over. i had sharp chest pain multiple times a day. at some points, it would make me stop talking for just a minute or two. at others, it would be strong enough to have me unable to move.

upon years of doctors, i finally met with one who’s face dropped upon hearing my background. she immediately placed me into months of testing and created a goal to make me healthier. in the end, she’s made the value of my life beyond words. with testing, it was clear my everyday life was being affected tremendously. as it turns out, i was not being dramatic about those school stairs. i attended specialists, multiple hospitals, and began taking more medicine.

within a few months, my breathing has improved by over 50%. my chest pain (while still there) began occurring once a month instead of multiple times a day. it took 8 years for a doctor to truly listen and work with me until i felt comfortable in my own body. with this, i also lost health insurance 3 separate times in my college soccer days.

i speak to prove that a healthy body is a privelage. take care of the privilege God provided you because it is a blessing that not all have 🙏