August 6, 1999

Tracy Sgro and Melinda Stein (shown above) are just two of the 5 million children in the United States who suffer from asthma. Asthma is one of the leading reasons children below the age of 18 years are brought to emergency rooms on a daily basis. For children living with asthma, the family pet, a leisurely walk or even dust can be the catalyst for a life-threatening asthma attack.

Kenan Haver, MD, an MGH pediatric pulmonologist, is helping kids learn to manage their asthma with "The Flying Fish," an asthma education and swimming program. Through games such as asthma BINGO and Twister, 15 children, ages 6 to 12, learn how to better handle their asthma, so they can lead normal, healthy lives. "The goal of the Flying Fish program is for the children to have fun, learn about asthma and enhance their self-esteem while improving their swimming skills," says Haver.

The program, a joint venture between the Partners Asthma Center and New England Medical Center’s Floating Hospital for Children, is five weeks long and is held on Fridays at the YMCA in Charlestown. It is sponsored by Sepracor Inc.