For Brenda Birch, even getting out of bed could cause her oxygen levels to plummet. Living with severe COPD, asthma and emphysema, she relies on oxygen around the clock. Your gift to support pulmonary rehabilitation helped her improve her breathing. 

“They didn’t give up on me,” she says. “They kept me going and made me want to keep going.” 

Brenda first connected with the program after a hospitalization for pneumonia. The pulmonary rehab team introduced her to new breathing techniques she could use while standing and walking. They also taught her exercises designed to build muscle strength. They were careful to not to push her beyond what her body could handle. 

The progress has been significant. Brenda still has limitations, but she can walk farther and recognize when she needs to stop and rest. Most remarkably, she has now been home for 90 consecutive days. It’s a far cry from her once frequent hospital stays. 

Brenda is grateful to have access to this kind of care. It’s especially rare in a small community where patients may not be able to afford to travel for specialized rehabilitation. 

“If I hadn’t had access to that rehab, I probably wouldn’t be walking at all right now.”

Your support helps provide the equipment and tools patients like Brenda need. From strength-building exercise bands to breathing devices that help clear the lungs, you have been there for her. 

“They’re wonderful there,” she says. “They’re patient, they talk you through what they’re doing and they show you how to do it. I can’t say enough good things about them.”