Beverly
Des Moines
As the mother of an asthmatic child, I was concerned about the effects of secondhand smoke long before it became a public health issue. Because cigarette smoke exacerbated the problem for our son, Jason, no one was allowed to smoke in our home, and we tried to avoid smoky public places. After many trips to the emergency room, trial medications and therapies, we were finally successful in managing his asthma. By the time Jason was a teenager, he was symptom free. Along with health advocates and volunteers across the state, Jason and I worked together to help make Iowa smoke-free. I am forever grateful that he no longer has prolonged exposure to the toxins in secondhand smoke.
