We are happy to have had the opportunity to talk to VILDE about what it is like to be an artist and have asthma. VILDE (25) is a Norwegian pop artist and songwriter who is now out with her latest song "Never Said Enough". and has been named February's artist by NRK P3 Urørt. She has grown up with asthma and now wants to share her story with us.
How did you first find out you have asthma?
I was 2.5 years old when I was diagnosed with moderate to severe infection-induced asthma. I don't remember much from that time because I was very small. My mother has told me that I coughed constantly, often once a minute for 6 hours at a time, which my mother found dramatic and terrible. My mother was alone with 3 children, all with asthma, which was extremely tiring. From the time I was diagnosed, I had about 6-7 times a year where I was sick with asthma for 4-6 weeks.
Have you always loved singing?
I have been singing all my life, and often performed in the living room from a young age. I sang constantly! I started playing the clarinet when I was 9 years old, which was good exercise for my lungs and good for my asthma. After that, I started singing in a choir, which I did for many years. I especially remember that in 2010 I was hospitalized for 10 days because of asthma (and whooping cough). I missed school and had to catch up in the hospital, but I found a guitar instead. I picked up the guitar and learned some tricks. Shortly after, I got my first guitar and started writing my own songs. That's when I decided to become an artist and songwriter.
What was it like growing up with asthma?
Since I was diagnosed, my mom has made sure that I get to participate in the activities I wanted. I was never on the sidelines as asthma wouldn't be an obstacle. I played football for 12 years, played clarinet, skied, sang in a choir and so on. Even when I was in kindergarten and sick with asthma, the staff carried around my asthma machine (the nebulizer) so I could play with the others.
But during the worst periods, when I was very sick, I had to stay indoors at home and miss school. If there was a lot of fog and moisture, I also had to stay indoors. When I was well enough to go to school, I was allowed to take my device with me. Although the unit was silent, I remember it was embarrassing to use it in class. The other kids were curious and stared a lot, wondering what I had in my mouth and why smoke was coming out.
I have only experienced fear once because of my asthma. I was 13 years old and my chest was very tight and my lips were blue. I coughed and vomited all the time because of a lot of mucus. We quickly got to the emergency room and got help, and it went well.
The positive thing about asthma is the many good memories I have from both Geilomo Children's Hospital and Los Teques in Gran Canaria. Since I was 4 years old, I have been on asthma leave 6 weeks a year. There we had lessons about asthma and I learned a lot. Then there was a lot of focus on physical activity and we went skiing and skating, swimming, climbing etc. I made many friends my own age who also had asthma, and thought it was fun to meet other children who had the same experiences as myself. When I got a little older (14-15) I was at Los Teques in Gran Canaria with others of the same age who also had asthma, where we were followed up by doctors and nurses, did physical activities and got to go to school there.
Have you always loved singing?
I have been singing all my life, and often performed in the living room from a young age. I sang constantly! I started playing the clarinet when I was 9 years old, which was good exercise for my lungs and good for my asthma. After that, I started singing in a choir, which I did for many years. I especially remember that in 2010 I was hospitalized for 10 days because of asthma (and whooping cough). I missed school and had to catch up in the hospital, but I found a guitar instead. I picked up the guitar and learned some tricks. Shortly after, I got my first guitar and started writing my own songs. That's when I decided to become an artist and songwriter.
What was it like growing up with asthma?
Since I was diagnosed, my mom has made sure that I get to participate in the activities I wanted. I was never on the sidelines as asthma wouldn't be an obstacle. I played football for 12 years, played clarinet, skied, sang in a choir and so on. Even when I was in kindergarten and sick with asthma, the staff carried around my asthma machine (the nebulizer) so I could play with the others.
But during the worst periods, when I was very sick, I had to stay indoors at home and miss school. If there was a lot of fog and moisture, I also had to stay indoors. When I was well enough to go to school, I was allowed to take my device with me. Although the unit was silent, I remember it was embarrassing to use it in class. The other kids were curious and stared a lot, wondering what I had in my mouth and why smoke was coming out.
I have only experienced fear once because of my asthma. I was 13 years old and my chest was very tight and my lips were blue. I coughed and vomited all the time because of a lot of mucus. We quickly got to the emergency room and got help, and it went well.
The positive thing about asthma is the many good memories I have from both Geilomo Children's Hospital and Los Teques in Gran Canaria. Since I was 4 years old, I have been on asthma leave 6 weeks a year. There we had lessons about asthma and I learned a lot. Then there was a lot of focus on physical activity and we went skiing and skating, swimming, climbing etc. I made many friends my own age who also had asthma, and thought it was fun to meet other children who had the same experiences as myself. When I got a little older (14-15) I was at Los Teques in Gran Canaria with others of the same age who also had asthma, where we were followed up by doctors and nurses, did physical activities and got to go to school there.
