Speakers: Mary Ruth Brehmer, Director, Patient Advocacy, US & Global Immunology-Respiratory, Regeneron
Allie Boutin Lead, US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy – Immunology Specialty Care, Sanofi LaJoy, Parent, Caregiver, and Advocate
Presented By Sanofi-Regeneron
LaJoy shared her experience caring for her 13-year-old daughter, who has been fighting asthma since infancy, at this year’s BHM 2025 Spring Health Summit & Expo. Her daughter and mother were present in the room.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, “Non-Hispanic Black or African American children were twice as likely to have asthma as non-Hispanic white children in 2023.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms this as well. A report from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute found that “Black people in the U.S. are 40% more likely to have asthma than white people” and “Black children are 8x more likely to die from asthma than white children.”
The proud Ward 8 resident began by asking the audience to raise their hand and revealing that her daughter could once fit in a cupped palm. “Abria was born at one pound and six ounces. This is how big she was,” said LaJoy. “This is a miracle baby that you all see here today.”
“She was in the NICU. She was supposed to be born in December, but she was born at 23 weeks,” she added. The Journal of Clinical Medicine reported that there is an “increased risk of asthma in preterm infants” in 2023.
La Joy had to add oxygen and an apnea monitor to the car seat and the diaper bag she toted around whenever leaving the house with her newborn. As Abria aged, there were other things the family learned to keep her healthy. “We had to give her nebulizer treatments,” she said.
Instead of being treated with compassion as the mother of a sick newborn, LaJoy faced implicit bias after delivering Abria early. “When Abria was born. The doctor said, ‘we just want to talk to you about your problem,’ and I was confused,” she said. “The doctors thought I was on drugs.” The experience motivated her to use her voice to help others who might be facing the same things. She regretted not advocating for herself harder at that moment. Today, she advocates for herself, her daughter, and many other families.
“How many people are advocating for our children? How many people are advocating for children who have special health care needs?” questioned LaJoy. “It’s a lot going on. And I don’t have to tell you all; one inhaler is the difference between life and death.”
For many parents caring for children with severe asthma or other health issues, the child may miss a lot of school, and a standard doctor’s note may not cut it. LaJoy had to have a document introduced into her daughter’s file to account for the times she might need to miss school for her health if she was recovering from an asthma attack. “It was a point where we were literally at the hospital at least once a month. I kept begging them to build me a condo, but they said no,” she joked.
She was not laughing when she fought for her daughter to have an IEP (Individualized Education Program) that took her physical health into consideration. “This was a standing letter that I had to put on file with the school because it was that bad,” she said. She would not rest until she ensured her daughter did not sacrifice more learning time than necessary to her illness. “There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. And that’s, honestly, what caregiving entails,” she continued. “As my mom would say, I am the Chief Executive Officer of my household.”
As Abria grew, she was able to participate in her own care. “Now that Abria is 13, it’s not as bad as it used to be, but she does take medication twice a day,” said LaJoy.
Asthma can restrict the options for playing sports, specific musical instruments, and other activities, but if treated appropriately, many children can participate in extracurricular activities as planned. Having competent and respectful healthcare practitioners (pediatrician, primary care, and pulmonologist) can help parents navigate that. “Honestly, you have to get a great healthcare team. I think that’s the difference: a healthcare team that helps you manage it all, puts you on the right medication, and also, when you say, hey, this doesn’t look right. They’re actually listening to you,” said LaJoy.
There are many environmental “triggers” that worsen asthma, like dust mites, mold, pets, pollen, smoke, physical activity, and air quality. “Her healthcare team introduced her to a non-profit called Breathe DC that provided her with resources like a new vacuum and a professional mold examination. They taught her to take her shoes off at the door to her home and other methods of avoiding introducing asthma triggers into her daughter’s environment. Other organizations with excellent asthma resources are AAFA and Asthma and Allergy Network.
“I don’t think a lot of people in the Black community have all that access to information.”
At the conclusion of the conversation, LaJoy reinforced the importance of speaking up to gain the information and resources needed to help your asthmatic children or someone else’s.
“We have to step up in our own community,” she said. “The time is now.”
Check out the full session:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
The Journal of Clinical Medicine
Breathe DC
AAFA
Asthma and Allergy Network.
