Sue had always been an active mother and wife. As a homemaker in Bullitt County, Kentucky, besides taking care of her two children and her husband, Sue liked to be active in the community. In 2009, she joined a local exercise program and began to experience some shortness of breath while working out. Her doctor said she had exercise-induced asthma and to watch how intensely she exercised.
When Sue’s husband passed away in 2010, she realized how isolated she was living in a rural community. During this time, she also worked three days a week at a bookstore in a nearby city. On workdays, she would go to the mall and see her friends after work. But on the days she was home, she felt increasingly alone and became more depressed. In 2011, she decided to move to the city of Louisville to be closer to her friends and family.
In 2013, Sue began getting short of breath more often. She decided to consult her healthcare provider, who ordered lung function tests and a CT scan, which helped diagnose her with emphysema. Her healthcare provider explained that emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is progressive. Along with medication, she was eventually prescribed 4 LPM of supplemental oxygen.
Coordinating Care
That was 12 years ago. Since then, Sue has had to learn how to manage the disease on her own. She finds her healthcare system’s electronic portal, My Chart, to be very helpful because it is designed to keep track of medical appointments, test results and reminders from her different healthcare providers. In addition, she keeps her medication organized with a medication tracker and takes the tracker with her to each appointment. As new medications are added, dosages changed, or medications are removed, she keeps the medication tracker up to date.
More recently, her cardiologist recommended that she start cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. This is a supervised program that provides people with heart and lung conditions with education, exercise and support. There she learned exercises to keep her safe and active, and she hopes to continue using these exercises after the program ends. At cardiopulmonary rehab, she works with Amy, a respiratory therapist, who guides her through each activity, addresses any needs and supports her as she works toward her goals. Sue says, “I appreciate this type of positivity and attention. It is good to know there is someone here who can guide me through cardiopulmonary rehab.”
A New Outlook
Though Sue has many hobbies and enjoys staying active and traveling, after her emphysema diagnosis she noticed completing her daily activities became more difficult. This caused her to struggle with anxiety and depression because she was disappointed she could no longer keep up the fast, active pace she had most of her life.
Her friends and family wanted to help and support her, but she did not want to burden them. When Sue realized that her COPD was affecting her emotional health, she made the decision to seek professional help. Her therapist worked with her to view her situation another way, “do not look at this as you are asking for something, think about it as your friends and family are offering you a gift.” Since then, she has been able to allow her friends and family to provide the gift of support, help with activities and offer motivation.
Sue has always been independent and strives to not let her lung disease stop her from enjoying time with her loved ones. After working with her therapist, she feels more comfortable accepting help from others. Sue shared, “my neighbors take out my trash and I have a cleaning service to help maintain my home. With this help, I can now use my energy on other activities.”
Sue’s recommendation to others living with COPD is to not isolate yourself and stay at home. It is okay to ask for help and find support through your friends, family, support programs and professionals.
Blog last updated: July 3, 2025
