Inhaler

Hello. I am a little puffer, but some people call me an inhaler. I am small enough to fit in your hand. My job is a very big job. I help people when their breathing feels tricky. Sometimes, breathing can feel like a hug that is just too tight. I was made because a very kind dad wanted to help his daughter. He wanted her to run and jump and play games with her friends. He wanted her breathing to feel easy and light, like a floating feather. I was his special idea to help.

The kind dad’s name was George, and his daughter’s name was Susie. Susie loved to run in the sunshine and chase butterflies in the garden. But sometimes, her chest would feel tight, and she had to stop playing. It made her sad, and it made her daddy, George, sad too. One day, George saw a bottle that sprayed a sparkly mist of perfume. Poof. A little cloud came out. That gave him a wonderful idea. What if he could put special breathing medicine into a tiny can. He thought and thought. He wanted to make a helpful cloud that Susie could breathe in to make her feel better. He worked very hard to make me just right so I could help his little girl.

Finally, on March 1st, 1956, I was ready. I was so excited to start my job. When someone needs help, they hold me, give me a little push, and I make a soft sound. Psssht. Out comes my special little cloud of medicine. The cloud floats down and helps make breathing easy again. It helps the too-tight hug go away. Now, I help so many kids and grown-ups all over the world. Because of me, they can laugh big laughs, sing loud songs, and play all day long. I love helping everyone breathe happy breaths.