"God gave me this story," said Rev. Cheryl Mitchell Gaines as she recounted some of the challenges of raising a child with asthma. Her youngest son, Kwesi, was diagnosed with asthma at the age of five months old. At first the doctors tried to use the RAD or respiratory airways disease diagnosis to avoid labeling an infant with asthma. But Kwesi's asthma was so severe at that time that the doctors concluded they had to use the appropriate diagnosis to prescribe the appropriate treatment. As a single mother, divorcee, her challenges were compounded by her struggle to make ends meet. Hypoallergenic formula and necessary medications were expensive. As she began to study information about the disease, she also began noticing mothers who were mostly inner city and economically deprived as they attempted to address their children's needs who had asthma. Many of these mothers did not understand the environmental triggers like dust, rodents and other curable triggers that they could work to eliminate. Many of them also could not afford medications like inhalers and most did not know about preventative medications that could be used to help avoid asthma crises. She became involved with parent and advocacy groups and worked with doctors and pharmaceutical companies to broaden her understanding of the disease and to help others. The pan African meaning of Kwesi and his middle name, Osaze (O-sah-zeh) was selected as a reflection on the New Testament text found in Romans 8:37. Kwesi, which means Conquering Strength and Osaze, which means "Loved by God" both capture the essence of the spirit needed to overcome any obstacle. "Of course, when God gave me the name there was no way I could know that my son would later face the challenges of asthma. But God knew so he equipped us with a weapon early on and that weapon is lodged in our Christian faith that we can overcome any and everything with God's help," said Rev. Gaines. With prayer and appropriate medical interventions, her son, Kwesi got better and he is a thriving young adult. Pastor Gaines lives in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and serves as a senior pastor of an inner-city church and ministry.
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