Breathe BalloonBreathe Balloon
A small balloon. A big dream.
But behind this little balloon is a deeply personal story.
The Story Behind the Balloon
A picture full of hope
Sometimes a picture holds more than you can see at first glance.
When I painted this colorful hot-air balloon, I was thinking of hope. Of freedom. And of my greatest dream: getting well again.
I live with ME/CFS, a severe chronic illness that has fundamentally changed my life and the lives of my family.
As I painted the balloon, I dreamed of being able to care for my children myself again. Of watching them grow up and taking an active part in their lives. Of walks, hikes, travel, and discovering the world together.
I dreamed of being able to think clearly again. Of the brain fog lifting and feeling like myself again.
Of all the things that many people take for granted and that have become incredibly precious to me.
I simply dreamed of a normal life.
Today, this balloon hangs in my son's room.
Every day, it reminds me that it's okay to hold on to hope, even when the road is long and difficult.
And now this balloon is flying a little farther.
How a Picture Became an App
Ten apps. None were right. Then a friend stepped in.
Throughout my illness, various doctors repeatedly recommended that I try breathing exercises.
So I began looking for an app that would suit me.
I downloaded around ten different breathing apps. Some were complicated; others didn't offer the exercises or settings I needed. And many required a monthly subscription.
All I really wanted was something simple: a beautiful, uncomplicated app to guide me through my breathing exercises and adapt to my needs.
One day, a friend said to me:
“Then I'll just program your own breathing app for you.”
And that's how Breathe Balloon came to be.
For the design, we used the hot-air balloon I had painted myself. A picture that originally expressed my hope for a healthy life became the inspiration for an app that can now guide others in mindful breathing, too.
What began as a personal solution became a shared project.
And perhaps one day this little balloon can accompany people all around the world.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Some people carry you when you can no longer fly on your own.
A severe chronic illness doesn't just change your own life. It affects the whole family.
For a little over a year now, we have seen how precious it is to have people who are simply there for us. People who help without making a fuss. Who give their time, make everyday life easier, and help our children grow up as carefree as possible, despite everything.
My special thanks go to:
Ms. S., who was there for us immediately in an emergency, organized help, and supported us when we needed it most.
Nicole, Steffi, and Ms. K. from our family support service, who have been there for us and supported us for over a year. Especially Nicole, who is there for us every day, helps us manage daily life, and has become a trusted person in our children's lives.
Our wonderful neighbors, especially our neighbor Nicole, who volunteered to help us once a week over a long period and lovingly looked after our children. And all the others who help so readily—by bringing our older son home from school, sharing their advice and knowledge on medical questions, or simply being there when we need support.
The parents and educational team at our parent-run initiative, who stand by one another with such understanding and a strong sense of community. They take tasks off our hands, help look after our children, and help give them a loving and carefree daily life.
Our family and all the people who stand by us and support us.
You give us something priceless: relief, confidence, and a sense of normality.
With an illness like ME/CFS, where people affected still often have to fight for appropriate medical care and support, this help is invaluable.
Without you, so much would not be possible. Thank you for being there for us. ❤️
Hope, Knowledge, and People Who Inspire Courage
Two special projects that accompany me on my journey
Alongside the people in my personal life, there are also people whose stories, knowledge, and experiences give me an incredible amount of strength and hope.
That's why I would like to recommend two projects from the bottom of my heart.
Fasynation – Johannes's blog and podcast
Fasynation is something very special to me.
Through his blog and podcast, Johannes has created an incredibly valuable collection of knowledge, experiences, and information about ME/CFS.
He talks to people who have recovered from ME/CFS, interviews doctors, and makes medical knowledge and personal experiences accessible.
What I particularly appreciate about him is his calm, caring, and empathetic manner. When you're severely ill and even listening can be exhausting, that makes a huge difference.
His work gives me hope and has supported me enormously on my journey so far.
Without Johannes and Fasynation, I probably wouldn't have come as far as I have today.
Thank you, Johannes, for your valuable work and for giving so many people hope.
🎧 Fasynation – Blog and podcast:
https://www.fasynation.de/
Greta & der Bott – When the Battery Is Empty
My friend Greta has created a special project together with her AI companion, “Bott.”
In her blog and audio series, she shares what life with ME/CFS is like—honestly, sensitively, and sometimes with a healthy dose of humor.
She brings to light what often remains invisible to outsiders: the exhaustion and the challenges of everyday life, but also the small bright spots and the hope.
Her stories help people living with the illness feel understood and help their loved ones understand it better.
Thank you, Greta, for sharing your experiences and giving ME/CFS a voice. ❤️
🎧 Greta & der Bott – Blog and audio series:
https://akku-leer.de/
Discover Breathe Balloon
Your breathing exercise. Your rhythm. Your balloon.
Take a breath. Find your rhythm. And let your balloon fly.
Breathe Balloon is a thoughtfully designed breathing app that guides you through a variety of breathing exercises with a colorful hot-air balloon.
Breathe Balloon guides you through your breathing exercises with a calm, colorful animation.
The hot-air balloon follows your breathing rhythm and shows you when to breathe in, breathe out, or hold your breath.
You can focus entirely on your breathing without constantly watching the clock.
Different breathing techniques
Box breathing (4–4–4–4)
Breathe in, hold, breathe out, hold—four equal phases for a steady breathing rhythm.
4–7–8 breathing
A well-known breathing technique with an extended exhale.
Extended exhale
Exercises in which the exhale lasts longer than the inhale.
Coherent breathing
Slow, rhythmic breaths with equal breathing phases.
Custom breathing exercises
Create your own breathing rhythms and adjust the exercises to your personal needs.
The exercises also include resonance breathing and slow breathing. You can choose the background design, music, signals and session duration. If you like, the app can save your practice time as mindful minutes in Apple Health.
Breathe Balloon is intended to give you the freedom to shape your breathing exercises in a way that works for you.
Release on the App Store and Google Play has not yet been confirmed. Once valid links are available, you will find them here.
A look at the app
The iPhone screenshots show the exercise selection and an active 4–7–8 breathing session in the Dream design.
Buy Once. Breathe Forever.
The planned model is a one-time purchase without a subscription or hidden costs; no account is required.
Help Our Balloon Discover the World!
A little dream you can help make real.
When I painted my hot-air balloon, I never imagined it would one day become an app.
Today I have a new little dream:
That this balloon will one day be among the most popular breathing apps in the App Store.
Not because there's a big company or a huge marketing budget behind it.
But because people like the app, enjoy using it, and recommend it to others.
If you like Breathe Balloon, you can support us with something very simple:
Once the app is available, you can leave an honest review and tell others about it.
An honest review helps us become more visible and reach more people.
Maybe one day this little balloon will fly all around the world.
And perhaps it will remind others not to lose hope, too.
Thank you for being part of this journey. ❤️
Breathe. Dream. Fly.
Created with love. Grown from hope.
Breathe Balloon is an app designed to guide breathing exercises. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Breathing techniques are not equally suitable for everyone.
Breathe Balloon is not a medical device. If you feel dizzy or unwell, stop and breathe normally. Safety information and sources