Listeners Respond


The story by Laura Rothenberg is the best thing I've ever heard on the radio. Laura, I'll never forget you.
Sue McCaffray
Wilmington, NC


Hundreds of listeners sent cards and emails from around the country directly to Laura after her story was broadcast on National Public Radio. Laura was touched and she kept a box of the letters and cards under her Christmas tree this past December. Laura and her family were surprised -- and thrilled -- with the response her story generated.

READ some of the emails listeners wrote after My So-Called Lungs aired.

A biology teacher in Hays, Kansas had his high school students listen to My So-Called Lungs. Afterwards, each member of the class wrote Laura a letter. These are excerpts from some of those letters:

Dear Laura,
My biology teacher, Mr. Satomi (awesome guy), showed us your audio diary. I loved it. I personally love keeping a journal, but HATE the sound of my voice. I know lots of kids with asthma and think that is a struggle, but you make even asthma sound like nothing. Your courage and determination not only impresses me, but inspires me...
Tanya Leiker



Dear Laura,
I am 15 years old. I listened to your audio diary in Mr. Satomi's Biology class. I normally dread biology but I was excited for class the day we were listening to your diary...It broke me to listen to your struggle and fight for your life day after day. When I started thinking about how positive you were through the entire thing I began to realize that I complain about lots of things that are completely insignificant and there you are, struggling with this horrible disease that you didn't ask for and you've got the most positive attitude I think anyone can have. Thank you for showing me to be grateful for what I have...
Much love,
Ashley Higgins

Dear Laura,
Your perserverence and joyful spirit through all your trials is awesome. i could relate somewhat to your story, because I struggle with asthma and my lungs have sometimes kept me from doing the things I enjoy, but it had never been evcen close to what you are enduring. I shared your story with other friends and family and they were just as impressed as I was. You are truly an inspiration.
God Bless,
keslie Kandt

Dear Laura,
This past summer my family and I were on our way to Poudre canyon in Colorado, for a much-needed vacation, when we heard your story on NPR. My wife and I drove quietly, intently listening to your words...

Over the next few days, weeks, months my wife and I kept coming back to your story from time to time and we couldn't shake the compulsion to somehow see to it that you would "not be forgotten"...That is when I decided that I would hgave my students listen to your "audio diary" when we discussed genetics in my classes...

A few weeks ago, after having discussed genetic disorders, I had my students listen to your audio-diary. As the students listened, I could see them thinking deeply. The students laughed at times, teared up at times and became uncomfortable at times as well. At the end there was complete silence. It is a rare instance when a room full of sophomore high school students is silent when no instruction is being given. In the discussion that followed it became even more evident that every student was affected in some way. Conversations about relatives and friends sprang up and a pervasive theme of being more able to relate to or to empathize with those individuals facing the myriad of challenges evolved...

I will continue to use your audio-diary in my classes for as long as I teach. I believe that your words help us all to connect with the humanity in each of us, and to become more empathetic to others. Many of my students will remember and hopefully share their experience with your spirit, and I will do my best to see to it that a bit of your spirit is passed on to the students that pass through my classroom...

Sincerely,
Ian, Kathy, Kayla and Kari Satomi


My So-Called Lungs
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