--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had asthma when I was a kid, asthma so…" description: "\"I had asthma when I was a kid, asthma so bad that it would turn into pneumonia and I almost died several times. Nobody knew why back then, but now it's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/don-mclean-6904_asthma_i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so_1870766.png" --- # I had asthma when I was a kid, asthma so bad that it would… ![“I had asthma when I was a kid, asthma so bad that it would turn into pneumonia and I almost died several times. Nobody knew why back then, but now it's obvious.” quote by Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/don-mclean-6904_asthma_i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so_1870766.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/don-mclean-6904_asthma_i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so_1870766.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/don-mclean-6904_asthma_i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so_1870766.png) > “I had asthma when I was a kid, asthma so bad that it would turn into pneumonia and I almost died several times. Nobody knew why back then, but now it's obvious.” [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Childhood asthma can be severe, leading to pneumonia and near‑fatal episodes, often misunderstood until modern medicine clarifies causes. **In simple terms:** Severe asthma in childhood can cause pneumonia and was often misunderstood. Key Takeaway Seek proper diagnosis and treatment early. Themes health childhood awareness Mood concerned hopeful Type personal educational When to use this quote - school - sports participation - parental vigilance - healthcare access Key Concepts respiratory disease medical progress Questions to Reflect On - How can early screening prevent severe asthma complications? - What role does education play in managing chronic illness? A Different Perspective Limited access to care can delay diagnosis and worsen outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asthma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asthma/) [Asthma Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asthma-bad-2579538/) [Asthma Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asthma-kid-2579541/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Died](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/died/) [Kid Asthma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid-asthma-2579539/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Obvious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obvious/) [Pneumonia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pneumonia/) [Pneumonia Died](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pneumonia-died-2579543/) [Turn Pneumonia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-pneumonia-2579545/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) ## Related quotes > [I was a kid who had asthma and bifocals and wore sweater vests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-clayton/i-was-a-kid-who-had-asthma-and-bifocals-and-wore-sweater-vests/) [Garrett Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-clayton/) > [I suffered from asthma when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-jordison/i-suffered-from-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid/) [Joey Jordison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-jordison/) > [Of course WE never had to do nude scenes. I'm glad, too, because I'm susceptible to pneumonia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-dunne/of-course-we-never-had-to-do-nude-scenes-i-m-glad-too-because-i-m/) [Irene Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-dunne/) > [I had severe asthma and kidney problems and would get 105-degree fevers. I actually almost had to go on dialysis for my kidneys. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-alba/i-had-severe-asthma-and-kidney-problems-and-would-get-105-degree/) [Jessica Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-alba/) > [“husband got pneumonia and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/husband-got-pneumonia-and/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [I will say that there is an inordinate amount of medicine in my novels, especially the first one. There are a lot of medical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-will-say-that-there-is-an-inordinate-amount-of-medicine-in-my/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [I think if a physician wrote on a death certificate that old age was the cause of death, he'd be thrown out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-think-if-a-physician-wrote-on-a-death-certificate-that-old-age-was/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [No one has died from giving a bad presentation. Well, at least one person did, President William Henry Harrison, but he developed pneumonia after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-berkun/no-one-has-died-from-giving-a-bad-presentation-well-at-least-one/) [Scott Berkun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-berkun/) > [“I'm a Buddhist. You might have a Christian obligation to catch pneumonia while you sit for two and a half hours listening to some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-pulley/i-m-a-buddhist-you-might-have-a-christian-obligation-to-catch/) [Natasha Pulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-pulley/) > [For the average person, taken to their sick bed, it takes a serious bout of pneumonia or a full body cast to completely forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/for-the-average-person-taken-to-their-sick-bed-it-takes-a-serious/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic preparedness plans. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/all-countries-should-immediately-now-activate-their-pandemic/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [I got Type 1 diabetes at 30. It hit me in 1982 when I was a White House Fellow in Washington. I had viral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-got-type-1-diabetes-at-30-it-hit-me-in-1982-when-i-was-a-white/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I know part of the problem, of course. The disorientation, the distraction, the difficulty focusing-all classic Phase one signs of deliria. But I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-know-part-of-the-problem-of-course-the-disorientation-the/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I put a lot of effort into writing 'A Briefer History' at a time when I was critically ill with pneumonia because I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-put-a-lot-of-effort-into-writing-a-briefer-history-at-a-time-when-i/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The drink? Yes, I've had tough times in my life, especially the last year, regarding my ex-wife, my kids, I nearly broke my neck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gascoigne/the-drink-yes-i-ve-had-tough-times-in-my-life-especially-the-last/) [Paul Gascoigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gascoigne/) ## More by Don McLean > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [I am what I do, and that's partly why I don't want to give up singing. But when I can't sing well, I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-am-what-i-do-and-that-s-partly-why-i-don-t-want-to-give-up-singing/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [The society that produced The Who, The Stones, Dylan, Paul McCartney and later on people, like myself, is over. The materialistic society that produces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/the-society-that-produced-the-who-the-stones-dylan-paul-mccartney-and/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [And if she asks you why you can tell her that I told you That I'm tired of Castles in the Air I've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/and-if-she-asks-you-why-you-can-tell-her-that-i-told-you-that-i-m/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [I saw satan laughing with delight The day the music died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-saw-satan-laughing-with-delight-the-day-the-music-died/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [I mean, I've been given a terrific life by the audiences who stuck with me all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-mean-i-ve-been-given-a-terrific-life-by-the-audiences-who-stuck/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [You're going to be buying your ticket with your heartache, you're gonna be payin' the man with your dues. You're gonna be living alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/you-re-going-to-be-buying-your-ticket-with-your-heartache-you-re/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Starry, starry night, flaming flowers that brightly blaze, swirling clouds in violet haze reflect Vincent's eyes of china blue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/starry-starry-night-flaming-flowers-that-brightly-blaze-swirling/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Faces come and faces go in circular rotation.But something yearns within to grow beyond infatuation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/faces-come-and-faces-go-in-circular-rotation-but-something-yearns/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Every thread of creation is held in position by still other strands of things living. In an earthly tapestry hung from the skyline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/every-thread-of-creation-is-held-in-position-by-still-other-strands/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Herman Melville was supposed to be an accountant. Van Gogh was meant to be an art dealer. I was meant to take the train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/herman-melville-was-supposed-to-be-an-accountant-van-gogh-was-meant/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [American Pie speaks to the loss that we feel. That's why that song has found the niche that it has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/american-pie-speaks-to-the-loss-that-we-feel-that-s-why-that-song-has/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [And when no hope was left inside on that starry, starry night, you took your life as lovers often do. But I could have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/and-when-no-hope-was-left-inside-on-that-starry-starry-night-you-took/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [The horrible thing about Death of princess Diana - the sacrificial lamb, which she was. And I believe, in a sense, John Kennedy, Jr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/the-horrible-thing-about-death-of-princess-diana-the-sacrificial-lamb/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Not a word was spoken. The church bells all were broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/not-a-word-was-spoken-the-church-bells-all-were-broken/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) [Explore all 96 Don McLean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) ## More Asthma quotes > [I have no sex appeal, which kills me. The only way I can ever hear heavy breathing from my husband's side of the bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-have-no-sex-appeal-which-kills-me-the-only-way-i-can-ever-hear/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [As a child I had terrible asthma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/as-a-child-i-had-terrible-asthma/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [I've always had bronchitis. I've been administered the Sacrament of Death three times for it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/i-ve-always-had-bronchitis-i-ve-been-administered-the-sacrament-of/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [Ever since I was little, I've had an issue with breathing and my stamina, especially growing up as a dancer. It was thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-michelle/ever-since-i-was-little-i-ve-had-an-issue-with-breathing-and-my/) [Ava Michelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-michelle/) > [I had terrible ear problems and asthma and allergies. I spent quite a bit of time in hospital up to the age of eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/i-had-terrible-ear-problems-and-asthma-and-allergies-i-spent-quite-a/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [It's just so bizarre how in this world if you have asthma, you take asthma medication. If you have diabetes, you take diabetes medication.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/it-s-just-so-bizarre-how-in-this-world-if-you-have-asthma-you-take/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [I'm scared of him," said Piggy, "and that's why I know him. If you're scared of someone you hate him but you can't stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/i-m-scared-of-him-said-piggy-and-that-s-why-i-know-him-if-you-re/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [I discovered the wife's got asthma. Thank God - I thought she was hissing at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-dawson/i-discovered-the-wife-s-got-asthma-thank-god-i-thought-she-was/) [Les Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-dawson/) > [My eyes were bad. I stuttered. I had hepatitis, double pneumonia, even anemia. When I was 7, my family took me on a trip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mercado/my-eyes-were-bad-i-stuttered-i-had-hepatitis-double-pneumonia-even/) [Walter Mercado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mercado/) > [Mr. Vice President, the most fiscally conservative thing this government has ever done, is to invest massively in the green part of the recovery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/mr-vice-president-the-most-fiscally-conservative-thing-this/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [I spent one night in the hospital in my life. I was past 75 when that occurred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-spent-one-night-in-the-hospital-in-my-life-i-was-past-75-when-that/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“I was the only boy in our school what had asthma," said the fat boy with a touch of pride. "And I've been wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/i-was-the-only-boy-in-our-school-what-had-asthma-said-the-fat-boy/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [The simplest way to look at all these associations, between obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer, and Alzheimer's (not to mention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-taubes/the-simplest-way-to-look-at-all-these-associations-between-obesity/) [Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/) > [“The great trains are going out all over Europe, one by one, but still, three times a week, the Orient Express thunders superbly over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/the-great-trains-are-going-out-all-over-europe-one-by-one-but-still/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [I had my appendix out when I was 11, and that was the last time I was in a hospital. That was a one-night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-had-my-appendix-out-when-i-was-11-and-that-was-the-last-time-i-was/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 163 Asthma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asthma/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had asthma when I was a kid, asthma so bad that it would turn into pneumonia and I almost died several times. Nobody knew why back then, but now it's obvious.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don McLean" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so-bad-that-it-would-turn-into/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asthma" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so-bad-that-it-would-turn-into/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/don-mclean-6904_asthma_i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so_1870766.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/don-mclean-6904_asthma_i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so_1870766.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/don-mclean-6904_asthma_i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so_1870766.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had asthma when I was a kid, asthma so bad that it would turn into pneumonia and I almost died several…” — Don McLean", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Don McLean", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had asthma when I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so-bad-that-it-would-turn-into/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-had-asthma-when-i-was-a-kid-asthma-so-bad-that-it-would-turn-into/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```