Thomas Cramer Mrs.

Gardner English 10, 0 Period 17 January 2014 A Breath for Eternity The lungs allow for one to breath and to fluctuate the chest to move back and forth as the mind controls the body (kidshealth.org). With breathing comes sanctity and replenishing of the minds oxygen so the body can function correctly; however, imagine a life where every breath brings fire, pain, and fear into your heart while suffocation draws closer to the point of your demise. Can a breath be a savior of ones life or a silent killer? The lungs are a piece of your body that becomes effected easily and is on constant defense from diseases and cancers. The lungs must fight asthma, lung cancer, COPD, Emphysema, Cystic fibrosis, ARDS, and Pneumonia (Merriam-Webster.com) on a daily basis to stay healthy, but yet kids complain today about having too much homework to complete or too many chores. Each of the pair of organs situated within the rib cage, consisting of elastic sacs with branching passages into which air is drawn is known as our lungs. Our lungs are our last line of defense against a suffocating tyrant who will never lose its force until the day we perish. My father once told me, Life is not about the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away. What can life mean to anyone who lives to be perfect and normal when with every breath comes another possibility for life? A breath is rebirth, a renewal of life, a second of time where death and life meet at a battlefield of power that with change history. Diseases of the lungs only add strength death, but it is the force of life and air that allows men and women to continue to live their lives. With my asthma, life seemed to slow down and continue to produce more obstacles for me to charge over. Every obstacle became a challenge with every breath getting shorter and more constrained; however, my mom would say, Breath...Just breath and it was as though all my life problems had diminished. It was the great Pink who even said,

I'm an asthmatic. I have to be on that treadmill singing to get my lungs right. The lungs are a gateway to the rapid pace of life, each wheezing breath can slow our lives to a steaming halt; however, how can a remarkable life be lived if the air to supply this life is restricted. In my life a breath of air could bring either pain or a replenishing blow; although my asthma often caused discomfort, there was often times were such things as smoking and bad lungs caused more pain in suffering in my familys life. A constant fear of lung cancer was in my life and scared me for the thought of never having a breath of fresh air again in my lungs. With every fear for my lungs came another event to hold my powerful dreams back, but these events exploded with a tremendous event. With the morning due in the air, I ran across the basketball court with a feeling of confusion lying in my heart, mind, and wheezing lungs as a smell of sweat and tension fell on the court. With a powerful blow, my lungs tightened and the silent suffocation tightened its grasp. My parents sprinted to my side at the end of the game while knowing that something internally was wrong. Thomas are you alright? my Mom asked frantically. II dont know. I where am I? I said with a mist of confusion hovering over me. Youre with me and your fine. my Mom said calmly. I began to look around and notice the number of friends and family that now surrounded me. At every angle, a loved one was there at my convenience at my time of need. I suddenly realized that I was home, but something felt different with a sense of rush in the house that was at a greater speed the usual. With more inhaler use, came less stress on my lungs along with decreased stress on my family. In an instant, my life was turned on edge slipping to suffocation and life at the same time with only words and dreams keeping me strong. Breathe...Just breath. Even with life threatening illnesses in my lungs, my life continued until the day I found that my asthma began to get worse as I became more athletic. With my lungs in a constant

battle and my heart only willing to follow my dreams, ones sense of maturity and clarity is revealed with adversity. A life of pain and misfortune was already sketched into the timeline before I was born when asthma was passed down the line of Cramers to the youngest of them all. This tradition was given to me with a heavy weight behind it, but my asthma got bad during a sixth grade track meet. Each stride became harder as I ran around the small dirt track, but even with my heart in the race my lungs began to fail and a point of pain reached my upper chest. This pain began to spread like a bustling wildfire, but this pain was only the beginning of my problems. With lung failure and lack of oxygen to my brain, the young Cramer boy who was in the lead suddenly fell to a ground curtailing stop. The increasing wheeze as I woke up was astonishing especially with the staggering number of doctors in the compact room. The noise and strength of worry made my lungs tighten like a fearful puppy, but with my kind mother in the room, I knew that all was well. My lungs began to untighten, my asthma began to restrain itself, and a sense of relief became present. Breathe...Just breath. The lungs bring peace, frustration and confusion to life, but my life could only be slowed when the power of my heart is present. Life can present your internal problems that can ruin a life for those who dwell on the bad; however, with life comes bumps in the road and my bumps just may be considered worse than others. Lungs allow for life to be extravagant and interesting, but it is our jobs to live life to its greatest glory. We must live our lives so the men and women who have asthma or a problem that restricts their lives, can listen to the great life stories that we have I our minds. The breath of life can allow freedom or displeasure, but with a strong power within our lungs, suffocation will dwindle and asthma will be a tyrant of the breathless past.

Works Cited "Lung." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, Web. 24 Jan. 2014. Lung Diseases & Disorders." Lung Diseases & Disorders. Web. 24 Jan. 2014. "Your Lungs & Respiratory System." Kids Health, 01 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.