Mary and I are on our way home from the Michigan Society for Respiratory Care conference. Thanks in great part to the efforts of Mike Hess and the lovely Kelly Becker, the event attracted about 450 Respiratory Care therapist and students.
We had the honor of acting as keynote speakers on both days of the event, speaking about COPD from the patient’s standpoint the first day, and the viewpoint of the caregipara on the second day. Our presentations were very well received and we were delighted to receive standing ovations both days at the end of the presentations
We tried to impress upon the students some of the needs of the patient and the caregivers, based on our experiences over the many years of my fight with COPD my lung transplant my recovery and the years since. We spoke at length of the drastic need for communication and understanding on the part of everyone concerned with a chronic disease patient.
I want to profoundly thank Mike and Kelly for their hospitality, their confidence in us, and for allowing us to tell our story in an effort to help future generations of respiratory therapists.
Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary