Having Hope With COPD
Hope: A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
When I was diagnosed with COPD, I was numb. I had just returned from 5 days of testing, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, and classes at National Jewish in Denver, CO, where I was diagnosed with COPD.
Everyone wanted to know what I learned, the testing, and more. I tried to explain to my family at my parent's house what was going on with my health, the diagnosis, and what it all meant.
Even though I gave daily updates on the phone, it was different when I was there in person. Someone might ask a question, or I could start talking about something that I learned, then someone would usually change the subject.
I was numb.
Having hope when having COPD
I had an appointment with my general physician. He just nodded with a weak smile when I told him. He already knew. Even talking with him didn't change my place in la la land. Usually, we had great conversations.
With time, I was still lost. I started a site on Facebook and asked if there were people with COPD that were lost and needed a friend. People came. I found people online that I could talk to and hopefully help. Most understood what I was experiencing, and I understood some of what they were going through.
Everyone hoped and prayed that they would feel better, that their COPD or a family member's COPD would go away, or at least not be as bad.
Some found improvement in their health, and some felt their normal progression. Some could take physical rehab; others learned to exercise at home. Others were put on a transplant list, and some had transplants.
What helped these people want to fight? Hope and a prayer!
Over the years, I have heard many reasons for hope and prayer. Here are some of them.
COPDers Hope for:
- Another day
- Seeing the kids and grandkids graduate and have a family
- Celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary, or the 10th or maybe even the 1st
- Ten more years of life
- Enough life and ability to care for my husband, who also suffers from COPD
- Longer, I want to be here as long as I can
- My family who still needs me
- A cure
My heart goes out to all who struggle with this disease and family and friends.
I know that my health affects my family. My husband sees me every day. Our families see me periodically, yet they possibly hear about me regularly through phone calls.
Some, not very often. That’s okay. That gives me another reason to hope!
Do you listen when you talk with others with COPD or family or friends with COPD? What do you hear?
Some may hear that they don't want to struggle anymore and feel their time is close. I have cried with some and prayed with others.
Some are afraid and angry at where they are at. They have earned the right to talk about their fears, their families, and more.
There are only two things that we must do in this life. One is to be born, and the other is to leave this earth. That can be unsettling and even scary for some.
In our lives, no one knows how long they will live. No one knows what kind of life they will have.
Some people who were diagnosed with COPD see it as a death sentence. Depending on where you are at in your COPD journey, you possibly have living yet to do. I hope so!
I like regular phone calls. “How is everyone doing there, and what’s new?” I listen for the “hope” in their message.
That’s a beautiful four-letter word. It says that there is something to look forward to and that there is a future. The person wants the best for others and hopes for comfort and peace. Hopes for less pain. Hopes for better breathing.
Hope gives us the fight and stamina to keep on. Hope gets us through another day with nighttime dreams of better things.
Hope gets us through another day. Hope keeps us looking forward.
Hope gives us that boost to live the best that we can. That word "hope." It is so freeing.
It encourages us to exercise and take medication, including oxygen, if prescribed. It helps us do other things we should do, such as seeing our doctors when scheduled and needed. It helps us eat nutritious meals and talk with a support person or group, either face-to-face or online. Even here in our community.
Hope: it helps us to do the best that we can. To live and to find peace with a "quality of life."
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