Your stories

The Asthma + Lung UK Breathing Space garden celebrates the connection between nature, wellbeing, and healthy lungs. Here’s our guide to some of the key plants of this special space.

Zoe’s mum, Jennie sadly passed away from COPD in December 2025. She feels that her mum didn’t seek help because of self-blame around smoking. Here Zoe tells us why it’s so important to help people feel less ashamed and more supported.

Karen was diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), a type of pulmonary fibrosis, four years ago. Here she tells us about the impact it's had on her life and how pulmonary rehabilitation has helped her feel more like herself again.

Beth is a primary school teacher, who lived in Hong Kong but has recently moved back to UK. Here she shares how she was hospitalised after an asthma attack and how it impacted her life.

Annie was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension when she was 15 years old. Pulmonary hypertension is when you have high blood pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood to your lungs. She went into heart failure in 2022 and is now on the list for a heart and lung transplant.

Paige was diagnosed with asthma when she was 8. Her asthma was well controlled and would flare up when she overexerted herself playing sports. This changed when she was around 24. Here she tells us about it.

Lorraine has a condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). It increases the risk of lung diseases like COPD. Lorraine has emphysema, one of the lung conditions that makes up COPD. Here she shares how our support groups have helped her connect with a supportive community.

In 2024, Ann completed a long-distance cycling challenge for Asthma + Lung UK. Here she shares why the charity is close to her heart and how she completed the 50-day challenge.

Good self management of your bronchiectasis is really important for staying well. Our supporters Sophie and Rae share how their Asthma + Lung UK bronchiectasis self-management plans help them stay on top of their condition and live well.

Claire spent the first three years of her life in and out of hospital with bronchitis, pneumonia and then meningitis. Her health improved and she was able to pursue a career as an A&E nurse. But after a chest infection and COVID, she was put on home oxygen. Here she tells us how it affected her life.

Steph was diagnosed with severe asthma as a teenager and would have at least 4 hospital admissions a year. Now, after being advised by our helpline team, she's been put on biologics which has helped her get it under control. Read how this has given her hope for her future.

Cat was diagnosed with asthma as a child. In December 2022, she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. She still felt unwell when she returned to work but couldn't get to speak to her GP so she called the Asthma + Lung UK helpline for support. Here she tells us her story.