I have focused my career over the last 30 years caring for patients with pulmonary disease in the hospital setting. Now working at White Plains Hospital some of my day is spent caring for people who I can cure quickly and return to their loved ones, friends and careers. I enjoy seeing patient's with asthma, pulmonary infections and pulmonary emboli (clots in the lung) that can usually be cured with steroids and airway dilators, antibiotics and blood thinners. Unfortunately, most of my days are spent caring for people with advanced lung diseases including COPD/emphysema, lung cancer and interstitial lung disease. I am dedicated to improving patient's incapacitating symptoms but, I have always struggled to understand how it feels to take every breath as if under water. Unfortunately, we still cannot cure people with severe COPD/emphysema or interstitial lung disease. We are advancing slowly in helping people with lung cancer survive longer. I have seen people live with their lung disease for many years with the support of loving family and an enormous desire to live life to the fullest possible- patient's wear oxygen around the clock; sometimes they need devices to help them take deep enough breaths to stay alive; they struggle to get out of the house to a pulmonary rehabilitation program to take a few extra steps; they take nebulizers and inhalers all day long; they try to stay strong enough to tolerate another round of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, in the end there are always tears and hugs.
I have joined the Lung Force this year in hopes of raising funds for research to better treat patients with severe lung disease. I am especially focused on raising awareness about early detection of lung disease such as CT scan screening for lung cancer and prevention of lung disease including smoking cessation.
I am walking in honor of all my patients. Your donation today turns small steps into bold strides toward a world free of lung cancer and lung disease.
Thank you.
David