"I've got asthma. When I was 17 I forgot to take my medication and was taken to a hospital for almost two weeks. After that I've taken better care of my illness"
About this Quote
The intent reads less like confession for sympathy and more like a corrective to the myth that artists are powered by self-destruction. At 17, the lapse is small and familiar - forgetting a routine, assuming you’re fine - until the consequence snaps into view. Two weeks is a long time for an accident; it implies severity, fear, the kind of forced stillness that punctures teenage invincibility. The narrative arc is simple on purpose: negligence, consequence, adjustment. That simplicity makes it credible.
Subtext: control is learned, not innate. Valo frames responsibility as a hard-earned habit rather than a moral virtue. There’s also a subtle rebuke to the culture around touring and youth that normalizes pushing through physical limits. By saying “after that,” he draws a line between persona and maintenance, between the fantasy of endless stamina and the practical discipline required to keep making work. It’s a reminder that longevity in music isn’t just inspiration; it’s inhalers, routines, and the decision to take your own health seriously.
Quote Details
| Topic | Health |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Valo, Ville. (2026, January 15). I've got asthma. When I was 17 I forgot to take my medication and was taken to a hospital for almost two weeks. After that I've taken better care of my illness. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-got-asthma-when-i-was-17-i-forgot-to-take-my-116487/
Chicago Style
Valo, Ville. "I've got asthma. When I was 17 I forgot to take my medication and was taken to a hospital for almost two weeks. After that I've taken better care of my illness." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-got-asthma-when-i-was-17-i-forgot-to-take-my-116487/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I've got asthma. When I was 17 I forgot to take my medication and was taken to a hospital for almost two weeks. After that I've taken better care of my illness." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-got-asthma-when-i-was-17-i-forgot-to-take-my-116487/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.



