Give me one minute: Escape from the National Park

It all began with a fever. At first, my family and I thought it was only a common cold and I would recover gradually by taking some medicine. However, it was far more serious than we thought. 

My condition did not improve even after taking medication. I was eventually admitted to hospital, and doctors found out that the flu virus had invaded my heart. We were all shocked. I still remember how frightened and completely helpless I felt at the time. Fortunately, with the help of doctors and the support of my family, I overcame the illness and successfully completed physical therapy. 

One year later, I'm back to full health, and I thought I would go back to being a normal kid. But my parents are still very nervous and worry all the time. 

They stopped me from doing exercise because they thought my heart wouldn't be able to cope with the strain.

I want to tell them that instead of helping me, their over-protectiveness will only make things worse for me. 

Their fear will limit my opportunities to learn and hinder my future development. It will turn me into a spoiled kid who is unable to take care of himself. 

My one-minute video shows a child with a heart problem kitted out in safety goggles, a mask and protective clothing. This is topped off with a plastic bag which covers his entire head. He can hardly breathe under the many layers of protective gear. This shows that too much protection can smother someone, and do them more harm than good. 

This is a reminder to the adults who are worried about their kids who have experienced serious illness. I would like to tell people that children who have suffered heart problems can still enjoy sports, and they can still be independent. 

I wish parents would listen to their children and respect their thoughts and ideas.