Answer:    According to The American Lung Association, they all had asthma.

As I sat in front of the "televisye" listening to Rep. Patrick Kennedy give "der hesped" (the eulogy) for his dad, I was brought to tears.  I had no idea that Patrick suffered from asthma, and how this debilitating disease affected his life and his relationship with his father.

Upon investigation, I found that asthma is not only the leading chronic illness in children, but it is also the leading cause of school absenteeism in the U. S., responsible for 10 "milyon" lost school days each year. More than a million U. S. children, ages 8 to 11, suffer from asthma.  The disease affects children from all walks of life, from the inner "shtot" (city) to the affluent suburbs.

I was also quite shocked to read that rates of respiratory problems in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, have grown out of hand.  "Toxic hazards posted by the deterioration of the Williamsburg bridge have long pitted community activists against city officials," says Rachel Goldenberg. 

Although May is Asthma Awareness Month, September is a good month to consider these statistics.

Amy Telesford kindly provided the writer with these facts:

The top four Brooklyn Neighborhoods with the highest prevalence of Asthma are as follows:*

#1 East New York    - 83% of the population
                  suffers from Asthma
#2 Fort Greene       -  53% of the population
                   suffers from Asthma
#3 Red Hook           -  52% of the population
                  suffers from Asthma
#4 Boerum Hill       -  47% of the population
                  suffers from Asthma

*The information was derived from a chart compiled in 2008.

Dr. Bernard Silverman, of the dept. of allergy/immunology at Long Island College hospital, says (1998) that from the number of Jewish patients he has seen, the overall numbers of Jews with asthma are high.

Patrick Kennedy said, "When I was a kid, I couldn't breathe.  Growing up, I suffered from chronic and crippling asthma attacks, and the medications I had to give to me were very difficult, and gave me a throbbing headache, every night that I had to use my bronchosol nebulizer

Now, obviously I wish that I did not have to suffer those attacks and endure those headaches.  Nor did I like having to grow up having a special non-allergenic, non-smoking room reserved for me whenever we went on family vacations.  But as I now realize years later, while asthma may have posed a challenge to my physical health, it propped up by emotional and mental health, because it kept my father by my bedside.  My dad was always sure to be within reach of me.  And the side effects of the medication meant that he was always holding a cold wet towel on my forehead, until I fell asleep again from my headache.

As far as the special effort that was made to ensure that I had a proper room to sleep in while we were on vacations as a family, this usually meant that I got the nicest room, and it also ensured that dad was my room- mate.

I couldn't have seen it at the time, but having asthma was like hitting the jackpot for a child who craved his father's love and attention.  When his light shined on me alone, there was no better feeling in all of the world.

When dad was away, I often didn't know when he would return.  And as a young boy, I didn't know why he wasn't around at Christmas time, when Santa came to the house.  And I really wondered why Santa had the same two moles on his face that my dad had, and in the same place as my dad.

Even after I figured out that that was my dad and the costume finally came off, he still remained to me a magical figure..."

As the school year begins, get involved in asthma awareness programs, including those on prevention and asthma education. Remember:  improving air quality is a key step to protecting children's health and helping them reach their fullest potential.

"Biz hundert un tsvantsik."  (You should live till 120; long life to you.)

For more information about controlling asthma you may reach Miss Amy Telesford with the Brenda Pillors Asthma Program at 718-488-1000 ext 1701