Personal stories: Faces of COPD
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a long-term breathing disease that affects Canadians of all walks of life. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians have COPD, and many others care for them in homes, hospitals and clinics around the country.
Here you'll find the personal stories of everyday Canadians with COPD, family members of COPD patients, and health-care professionals who research and treat COPD.
Vivanne Toupin
"Knowledge is a powerful thing: If you have COPD, many things are available to help you live a full, comfortable life…" Read more from Vivianne»
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Dave Ritchie
"When I grew up, kids started smoking around age 15. I smoked from age 15 until I was about 35. A few years after I quit smoking, I started to notice that I was getting short of breath, coughing and spitting up phlegm..." Read more from Dave»
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Darlene Morgan
"Two years ago I found myself on life support in hospital. Now I can enjoy a half-hour walk with my children, grandchildren and my dog. I feel better than I have in years…" Read more from Darlene»
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Mary Stewart
"I was a nurse for 25 years, so I knew about a serious lung condition called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Many of the patients I cared for had COPD. And so did my mother. But I was playing the game of denial…." Read more from Mary»
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Don Clarke
"I quit smoking about 15 years ago. I went to see my doctor because I had shortness of breath. He told me: If you want to see your grandchildren graduate, you’d better stop smoking." Read more from Don»
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Larry Mayville
"I was diagnosed with COPD at 37. I went to my doctor to get tested because I noticed that I was always out of breath. At first I thought: “What am I going to do? How am I going to fight this?" Read more from Larry M.»
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Lena McCullum
"My father had died of emphysema. Two aunts and two uncles died from it, too. So I knew its name, but I really didn’t think about it happening to me." Read more from Lena»
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Larry Graham
 "Since I’ve started coming to pulmonary rehab, it’s made a huge difference in my life. I’m in better shape now. I know my muscles are more toned. My immune system is stronger." Read more from Larry G.»
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Doug Cooper
 "I was stunned when my doctor told me I had COPD. I had never heard of this disease before. The first thing I did was get myself informed." Read more from Doug»
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Dina Brooks
Research Scientist, Toronto Rehab
"COPD can be treated. If you have COPD, I encourage you to get treated and ask your doctor is pulmonary rehab is right for you...…"
Learn more about pulmonary rehab»
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Donna Goodridge
Associate Professor, University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing
"I’m working with a team of researchers who are looking at ways we can support people with COPD and their caregivers better, so that we can reduce hospital visits and help them manage their diseases better."
Learn more about Donna's COPD research»
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Rosario Holmes
Pulmonary rehabilitation leader, The Lung Association
Partners
The Faces COPD awareness campaign was made possible through unrestricted educational grants from these partners:
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