When she found herself in the hospital battling an asthma attack, Candace Chase found the perfect opportunity to learn more about a career path she had been considering.
“I was in the hospital speaking to my therapist when I mentioned I was thinking about respiratory therapy,” says Candace who will be graduating with the class of Spring 2015. “He immediately said ‘go to GateWay, it’s the best school hands down for respiratory.’”
Upon realizing this was something she wanted to pursue, Candace completed her pre-requisites and enrolled in the Respiratory Care program at GateWay Community College.
One skill that she had to polish was her time management skills in order to fulfill all the study requirements of the program.
“The program is intense and you definitely have to have time management,” says Candace. “[The instructors] want to make sure that we are the best out there, that we know not just about respiratory, but also how this affects other areas in the body.”
While in the program, she not only learned about the discipline but also was able to apply this knowledge to help others at GateWay’s HUG Clinic, a pro-bono clinic that serves the community. This is an experience she truly cherished, as she was able to begin creating bonds with her patients and help them improve their quality of life. Her experience at GateWay has also helped shape her future.
“After my experience in the program, I really want to get into the asthma education aspect of this field,” says Candace. “I really want to help children and bring awareness to asthma.”
During her time at GateWay, she saw one of her best friends die due to complications of asthma. The preventability and the closeness of his death have propelled her to raise awareness of asthma and the seriousness of the disease.
“We don’t hear about this anymore but asthma can kill,” says Candace. “People need to be aware of their symptoms and know when to go to the hospital.”
Candace along with other respiratory care students raised $1,200 for the American Lung Association’s Camp Not A Wheeze, which helps provide outdoor recreation opportunities for children with asthma. The donation was made in honor of the student that passed away as he was also known for his dedication to serve others and passion for helping kids with asthma.
The American Lung Association has designated May as Asthma Awareness Month to help raise awareness of the disease and ways to prevent deaths.