Tucson,
Arizona
As a patient advocate and State Captain for Arizona, I hope to accomplish bringing awareness of COPD and help to not only my community but to all that will listen.
As a COPD advocate, I have sent a letter to my members of Congress about COPD, and I have spoken to my family and friends about COPD. I am also a member of a support group, and I have signed up for COPD360SOCIAL.
As a State Captain, I am interested in working with state, local, and national officials to improve COPD policy, and writing about COPD to share my story and help raise awareness. I would also like to connect others in the COPD community to the resources available so they can live healthier, fuller lives, and recruit new State Captains and volunteers.
My proudest COPD moment has been when people ask me about COPD, and I can answer their questions and lead them to the place where they can get information they want and need.
My inspiration to share is, “Bless God and He will Bless you.”
More about me: I have had asthma my whole life. I am a 76-year-old mother of 6 children, grandmother & great grandmother. I went on disability in 1998 due to COPD. I was on oxygen 24/7 for 15 years, Up until a little over a year ago, I was in the hospital with pneumonia for 2 weeks & on a respirator for 4 days, but with the help of God & knowledge I have received through research & exercise I am no longer on it 24/7. I do still use it periodically when I push myself to hard & I get scared. I have learned so much from the COPD Foundation. I believe attitude and faith in our Lord is everything. You have to keep moving and not just setting around and thinking you’re going to die. It is hard but life is not easy… You can do it!