This is how Matt Baker spent many of his Thanksgivings: in the hospital, hooked to IV needles and monitor wires, separated from his family by an oxygen tent too restrictive to even watch television. He struggled for each breath.

But Matt, 13, will spend today with his family in Thermopolis.

He says he has one person to thank for this: his childhood pediatrician, Dr. Michael Quinn.

"Though I continue a difficult, daily fight with my asthma, and other health problems, the absolute most important thing I am thankful for this Thanksgiving is Dr. Quinn, for he is the only reason that I can spend another Thanksgiving with my family," Matt wrote for the Casper Star-Tribune's "Thankful" essay contest.

Matt has chronic asthma. For the first five years of his life, he had to be admitted to the hospital at least once a month.

Matt remembers Dr. Quinn during those stays, visiting every night and sharing Matt's favorite dinner of roast beef and mashed potatoes. And he remembers Quinn's orders: Get better. Quinn never asked for anything more.

"It's nice to see that he has a positive memory of that time and that he could put that to pen and paper," Quinn said.

One hospital visit in particular sticks in Matt's mind. He was about 8 years old and had spent the day at the carnival. By the evening, Matt was sick and struggling to breathe.

He describes an asthma attack this way: "It's almost like somebody is on top of me with 400 pounds, like four guys are on top of me and they are choking me."

He felt scared and nervous. Then, he lost consciousness.

He remembers a dream, or maybe it wasn't a dream at all. He saw four or five angels hovering over him in the hospital. They were dressed in baby blue, had blondish-brown hair and halos above their heads. They told him to hang on - they would help Dr. Quinn take care of him.

Matt gained consciousness after about a day.

And for that hospital stay and so many others, he is thankful for Dr. Quinn.

"He's the best doctor there ever was. I would have to say, he went above and beyond."

Quinn has been a Casper pediatrician for 27 years. That means, to some of his young patients, he's the guy with the needles. It's nice when these children get over that association, when doctor and patient can become pals and, when the patients grow up, bring their own children to see him.

"That, in many ways, is the bottom line of respect and acceptance," Quinn said.

Matt's letter of thanks is a lot like that. His asthma attacks were difficult, painful and almost always meant isolated stays in the hospital. But Matt is appreciative for the man who sent him the hospital and who, in Matt's eyes, helped pull him through.

These days, Matt doesn't go to the hospital as much as he used to. But, he takes five medications a day and has bone problems from the steroids. He's had surgery on his stomach and esophagus.

He can't run, but tries hard in physical education class and does what he can.

When he grows up, he wants to be an engineer and design a new mode of transportation for the families of the sick and injured. He wants to help them travel quickly and safely to specialists around the country.

He has spent a good amount of time on the road himself, driving to doctors in Denver and Salt Lake City. He missed a lot of holidays.

"He's come a million miles in his 13 years. He works hard just to get through the day most of the time," said Matt's mother, Shelly Ivie. "His perseverance is encouraging. Watching a child just struggle to take a breath, it kind of puts things in perspective."

As long as Matt can breathe, he'll spend today with his family. They'll play some games and they'll eat, just like so many other families in Wyoming. It will be one of only a handful of Thanksgivings he's gotten the chance to spend at home.

"When it comes time to sit down to dinner, we thank everyone who has helped us through the year and kept us alive. I like the food, the roast beef and the memories and the memories to come," Matt said.

"Getting to spend time with my family, without having to go to a doctor or be in the hospital, it's a really great time for me."