“I never thought about my lungs and how important they were until they started to fail.”
For Todd Wells, the truth really hit home at age 30. He had struggled with asthma most of his life, a condition made worse by a 19-year smoking habit that he admits was foolish.
“I struggled with shortness of breath every day, and simple tasks left me gasping for air,” he recalls. “I began experiencing chest pain, pounding headaches and tingling in my fingers. I knew my asthma was getting much worse, and my condition was very serious.”
His doctor referred him to the respiratory team at Royal Jubilee Hospital, where a spirometry test revealed his lung function was only at 45%. He quit smoking right away.
Because of this equipment and care I received, I have a future.
“After six weeks of being cigarette-free and taking my medication correctly,” Todd says, “my lung function improved to 87%. I could not believe how much better I felt.”
With the support of donors, TB Vets is helping to equip respiratory teams like the one at Royal Jubilee Hospital so thousands of patients each year can gain a better quality of life, as Todd now enjoys.
“Because of this equipment and care I received, I have a future.”*
