Family and friends of Carmen Pasion Dagulo will honor her memory by joining with The Allergy & Asthma Network on Sept. 25th to educate the public about the proper care for asthma sufferers.

LAHAINA — Lahaina resident Abcde Shibao Rosa is the program assistant for the County of Maui Department of Housing and Human Concerns’ Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, owner of the online business Our Little Stiles, and an asthma sufferer. Rosa’s story about her battle with asthma, which she wishes to share with the community, is one that many others may be experiencing.

Moreover, after hearing about the unfortunate passing of Maui resident Carmen Pasion Dagulo from an unexpected fatal asthma attack, Rosa wanted to reach out to those also suffering from asthma and allergies in the community.

Carmen’s sister, Lalaine Pasion, has spearheaded the upcoming Lungs for Life event and program to bring awareness to the importance of immediate treatment for asthma in children and adults. Additionally, Pasion, Rosa and all participants want to make sure no one on Maui has the same heartbreaking experience and outcome as Carmen.

Rosa will also be a participating vendor at the first Maui Asthma Awareness and Fitness Lungs for Life event being held on Sunday, Sept. 25, from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Level Up Maui at 343 Hanamau St. in Kahului.

The owners of Level Up Maui, Jackie Pappas and Martin Cox, said, “We are hosting this event because our mission is to educate and empower our local Maui community when it comes to their health. The entire purpose is to increase awareness about asthma and allergies and to also make an impact.”

Overall, the main goal of the event is better health and well-being for the public. All of the participants hope the occasion will improve quality of life and achieve equitable and optimal health outcomes for the adults and children living with these chronic conditions, especially those in underserved communities.

The program includes asthma and allergy information and fitness instruction for all ages, plus many local vendors, such as Rosa, will be offering related products. Shared proceeds will benefit the Allergy & Asthma Network, the leading nonprofit organization in the nation supporting patient outreach, education, advocacy and research for people with asthma, allergies and similar conditions. Rosa explained, “More than 110,000 Hawaii residents are living with asthma and approximately one-third of those are children. Knowing the need and immediacy of asthma and correlated conditions made me want to help inform others. Treatments designed to help control asthma symptoms can lead to a fuller life with better breathing and improved lung function. Many experts say that monitoring your health triggers and using your inhaler daily can prevent severe asthma attacks.

“My own problem began when I was participating in athletics while in high school. I noticed I was having a hard time breathing throughout the daily workouts, and when I mentioned it to the coach and others, I was told it was not a problem and I would be fine. However, when I finally went to the doctor about it, I was diagnosed with asthma, and my inhaler became my best friend. Now that I am aware of how serious the problem can become, I want to take part in educating the community and letting them know of all the treatments and help that are available. Persons with asthma do not have to suffer on a daily basis with symptoms that can lead to a life or death situation.”

The Allergy & Asthma Network is partnering with the family and friends of Carmen to host the event. They unite and advocate on behalf of 60 million Americans with asthma, allergies and related conditions.

Their patient-centered network unites individuals, families, caregivers, health professionals, industry partners and government decision-makers to improve health and quality of life. The network specializes in making medically accurate information understandable to all while promoting evidence-based standards of care.

Pasion noted, “After losing my sister Carmen to a deadly asthma attack, I knew I had to reach out to the Allergy & Asthma Network to learn how to inform the community about this mostly ignored issue. They collaborate with national and local partners to train healthcare professionals, and they host events and screenings that reach people directly in their own communities. With them, I hope to raise awareness and educate the community through easy-to-understand, medically reviewed resources. In addition, I hope to advocate on the state level to improve access to care and affordable medications. We want to ensure the patient voice is heard in research and drug development.

“Ironically, the Lungs for Life event coincides with the Hawaii State Senate recently passing a bill (SB 2822 SD1 HD1 Asthma) that requires the Department of Education to offer asthma education to students. The legislation would also develop and provide asthma training to teachers and other Department of Education employees who interact with students. The companion bill in the Hawaii House of Representatives (HB 1799) is currently under review in committee.”

Anyone of any age, family background, race, gender or general health can develop asthma and allergies. Researchers think many genetic and environmental factors play a role, especially during the first years of life when the immune system is developing. However, asthma and severe allergies can begin at any age.

An asthma attack occurs when an asthma trigger causes the lungs to become inflamed and swollen. The muscles around the breathing tubes tighten or spasm, and more mucus than usual is produced. All of these factors make the breathing tubes narrow and make it harder to get air into and out of the lungs.

During a recent report on Asthma Awareness in Adults on KITV 4 News, Dr. Barry Lachman explained, “Asthma is a very controllable disease if you follow the recommendations and take your medication — and take it seriously. A substantial number of people do not outgrow their asthma. The earlier you start having problems with asthma, the more likely it will persist.”

Pedro Haro, executive director of the American Lung Association, said, “Asthma continues to be a pressing issue for Hawaii. According to the Hawaii Department of Health’s Asthma Tracker, nearly 9 percent of all adults and 8 percent of all children in Hawaii are currently living with asthma. The rates of asthma in Native Hawaiian communities are even higher.

“Asthma is also the number one reason for absenteeism in schools, and many parents have to rush their children into emergency rooms due to asthma attacks. It is vital to let people know that asthma is an important issue.”

Pasion concluded, “Many asthma and allergy sufferers are not aware that there are self-care tools for managing their symptoms between physician visits and for connecting with a circle of support. It is this kind of information that we hope to share on September 25th. The event, open to the public, is a tribute to Carmen and other Maui residents, whose tragic asthma attack might have been avoided if the proper treatment had been known and administered.” The American Lung Association offers information for the community to help manage asthma in both children and adults. Resources can be found online at https:/lung.org.asthma, or call 1-800-LUNG-USA to talk to a lung health expert.

To learn more about the Allergy & Asthma Network, visit AllergyAsthmaNetwork.org.