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Selected Correspondence
Thanks for your site, I'm short of puff and suffering from Arterio Sclerosis afer a long lifetime of smoking (abandoned 3 years ago when then aged 72). The shortness of breath irritates me since I was physically highly active all my life (tho' in view of my smoking habit you may well ask if the activity extended to my brain) and now I find I cannot run the 100 yards in 10 seconds any more (I never could anyway). Thanks for selfless people like you.
I was diagnosed in the fall of 1999 as having mild COPD. Funny, what they call mild...Now I surf the net looking for info and stories to help me make it without feeling too alone.
Thank you, your story shows me that I'm not alone in being diagnosed a bit late for preventitive measures to slow it all down and keep the quality of life at a close to average level.
Your taking the time to share your story up to and through diagnostics plus stuff abut your recent life is a blessing to me. I am usually told how I don't have it so bad as someone else, then they ask about my meds and look at me in total disbelief when I start naming all the things I have to take and how often just to maintain a semblence of breathing okay. You sound as if you have frequently gone thru the same thing yourself. Thanks for your willingness to share. It eases my burden today and lets me know there are other women who need my encouragement to keep on going forward, too.
My computer (which I've only had since September of Y2K) has become my link to the world, and I have come to be thankful for all the info now available. Keep sharing, and we will keep reading.
In Christian love, E
This is a note that followed a day or so later:
Just 2 1/2 years ago I was working, socializing, and go-go-going. I am still stunned at the sudden and drastic changes, though I have learned to open new windows here and there that are adding quality dimensions to my 4 walls of safety.
Love and prayers for the future, E
Hello Linda, I am writing to you because my mother recently passed away from Severe COPD. She was diagnosed in 1986 and spent the next 14 years of her life struggling day by day, minute by minute, and second by second with this horrible disease. Mom smoked for 30 years. In my own shame, it has taken my mother's death to realize the "reality" of what this disease can do to a life. I can only pray that my mother will forgive me for not fully understanding what she was dealing with. I sometimes used to think that she was using the disease as a crutch not to do things, but now in
my research I am finding out how horrible it really was for her. I only wish I could have understood this earlier. When I accessed your website and saw the picture of you sitting at your computer, it gave me chills because it reminded me so much of my mother. She was only 61 years old, and had ! ! a beautiful spirit. I miss her so intensely. I have a pre-teen daughter who was extremely close to her grandmother and cries for her everyday. My mom has only been gone since November 2000 but already it feels like an eternity. My sincere hope is that the message you are trying to get across with your website makes a difference. It has to me, and I thank you. I wish you health and happiness and will keep you in my prayers.
LE, PA
This is for all those whose Frends or Relatives have COPD:
Maybe I can give you a possible reason why your mother might not go to the hospital, and cries when you ask her to go. I have COPD and I'm only 47. I smoked for many years and if truth be told, I still cheat often. Hard to believe but true. My kids and my husband watch me go through hell, and I know it puts them through hell too. When you get lung disease from smoking, there is not only self hatred, but also guilt. I refused to go to the hospital many times, preferring to just sit and not exert myself rather than sit in the ER and wait for hours, and when you finally do get in to see a doctor, they give you a breathing treatment, nebulizer, which I can do at home, and probably your mom does too. Then you have the folks who look at you like they're thinking "See what you did to yourself". If you want to help your mother, here are a few hints I wish my husband would take:
#1 Never ever keep asking her if she's ok when she's having a difficult time catching her breath or having a coughing spell. It embarrasses, as well as takes energy to assure you that she's ok. (Which you know she's going to say even though she's not). Just sit with her and try to reassure HER instead. Another thing you can do is look for articles or research that might help her and leave a pamphlet or address or whatever with her. Then drop it. Wait for her to bring up the subject. #2 When walking with her go slow. The last thing I will do is to admit I'm having a hard time breathing while doing ordinary activities. Hope this helps. Best of luck. Paula
Hi Linda. This is Lala Corriere writing you. I hope you are staying warm. It is very cold here in Colorado!
I wanted you to know that I have received two e-mails directly attributed to your sight. One was from a teacher who wanted to use my poem in her preventative smoking educational program. Another, a college student in
Canada who wanted to include it in her final thesis. Thank you so much for helping me get my little message out.
You are making a difference out there!
Merry Christmas.
Lala
Last Updated: 8/10/01
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