Saoirse was just like every other child. She loved to play, run, and laugh with her friends. But Saoirse had something special inside her: a magic breath.
You see, Saoirse had something called Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, or PCD for short. It meant that her tiny little helpers inside her lungs, called cilia, didn’t work quite like everyone else's.
Cilia are like tiny brushes that help clear away germs and dust from your lungs. Most people’s cilia work perfectly, but Saoirse's needed a little extra help.
"What's that noise, Saoirse?" asked her friend Paige as Saoirse took a deep breath. "Achoo!" Saoirse sneezed, and a tiny puff of air swirled around her.
Saoirse smiled, "I have magic inside me. When my cilia can’t help me, I have to help them by taking deep breaths, resting, and sometimes seeing the doctor."
Saoirse's doctor explained that when her cilia couldn’t clear her lungs, she might need special medicine or treatments to help. But Saoirse wasn’t scared. She knew that with the right care, she could still have fun!
One sunny afternoon, Saoirse and Paige were playing tag in the park. Paige ran fast, but Saoirse stopped to catch her breath, knowing she needed to rest sometimes.
"Are you okay, Saoirse?" Paige asked. Saoirse nodded. "I just need a little break, then I’ll be ready to go again."
Saoirse mom always told her, "It’s okay to slow down when you need to. You are strong, and your magic breath will help you keep going."
And that was true. Sometimes, Saoirse would need to take breaks and do her breathing exercises. But every time, she came back stronger.
Saoirse showed Paige how she could breathe slowly and deeply, pretending to blow out a tiny candle on her finger. Paige giggled, "Your magic breath is really cool, Saoirse!"
Saoirse learned that being brave wasn’t about never stopping—it was about knowing that with help and a little patience, she could still do everything she loved.
As the sun set and the sky turned pink, Saoirse felt proud. She knew that her magic breath was always there, helping her every day.
"Come on, Paige! Let’s play again tomorrow. I’ll be ready!" Saoirse called, and with a big, deep breath, she ran off into the sunset, ready for whatever adventure came next.
