1 00:00:03,737 --> 00:00:04,537 ♪♪♪♪♪ 2 00:00:04,571 --> 00:00:05,505 Respiratory Therapist: how's your 3 00:00:05,538 --> 00:00:06,573 breathing today? 4 00:00:06,606 --> 00:00:08,742 THIS YEAR, DON OWENS WAS A REGULAR AT THE ST LUKE'S 5 00:00:08,775 --> 00:00:12,512 REHABILITATION INSTITUTE FOR PULMONARY REHAB. 6 00:00:12,545 --> 00:00:14,547 breathing can be a problem. 7 00:00:14,581 --> 00:00:18,084 there are days i can get up and go for hours, and 8 00:00:18,118 --> 00:00:20,887 days when i get up and can't walk 5 feet without 9 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:22,689 getting out of breath. 10 00:00:22,722 --> 00:00:25,191 HE WAS DIAGNOSED 12 YEARS AGO WITH CHRONIC 11 00:00:25,225 --> 00:00:27,594 OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE. 12 00:00:27,627 --> 00:00:30,830 I smoked for about 45 years, i had pneumonia at 13 00:00:30,864 --> 00:00:33,099 an early age. 14 00:00:33,133 --> 00:00:35,635 OWENS SAYS HE'S ALWAYS LED AN ACTIVE LIFE... 15 00:00:35,668 --> 00:00:38,605 AND AT FIRST AFTER DIAGNOSIS, HIS COPD DIDN'T 16 00:00:38,638 --> 00:00:40,006 BOTHER HIM. 17 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:41,708 BUT THE DISEASE IS PROGRESSIVE. 18 00:00:41,741 --> 00:00:44,444 AND OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS, HIS NEED FOR OXYGEN HAS 19 00:00:44,477 --> 00:00:45,645 DOUBLED. 20 00:00:45,678 --> 00:00:47,747 I can't go anywhere without making sure i'm 21 00:00:47,781 --> 00:00:51,017 gonna have enough oxygen to get through the day. 22 00:00:51,051 --> 00:00:54,788 AND THINGS THAT USED TO COME EASILY, ARE NOT SO 23 00:00:54,821 --> 00:00:56,089 EASY ANYMORE. 24 00:00:56,122 --> 00:00:59,225 There are times now when i get out of air just 25 00:00:59,259 --> 00:01:02,095 drying off after a shower. 26 00:01:02,128 --> 00:01:04,931 WHEN HIS DOCTOR SUGGESTED HE ENTER A PULMONARY REHAB 27 00:01:04,964 --> 00:01:07,267 PROGRAM, OWENS WAS RESISTANT. 28 00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:09,369 I'm used to doing things on my own. 29 00:01:09,402 --> 00:01:13,006 it bugs me to have to ask people to do things for me now. 30 00:01:13,039 --> 00:01:15,141 BUT AS THINGS GOT MORE DIFFICULT, HE DECIDED TO 31 00:01:15,175 --> 00:01:16,609 GIVE IT A SHOT. 32 00:01:16,643 --> 00:01:20,280 I am active but I've come to realize that i 33 00:01:20,313 --> 00:01:23,349 need the structured exercise. 34 00:01:23,383 --> 00:01:27,887 So I came back to Luke's to get the structure back 35 00:01:27,921 --> 00:01:29,556 in my life. 36 00:01:29,589 --> 00:01:32,425 NOW OWENS IS A GRADUATE AT ST. LUKE'S. 37 00:01:32,459 --> 00:01:34,828 THE EXERCISE PORTION OF THE PROGRAM HELPS PATIENTS 38 00:01:34,861 --> 00:01:38,098 WITH ENDURANCE, AND HELPS THEM MAKE THE BEST USE OF 39 00:01:38,131 --> 00:01:39,566 THEIR OXYGEN. 40 00:01:39,599 --> 00:01:42,302 BUT THIS PROGRAM GOES WELL BEYOND EXERCISE. 41 00:01:42,335 --> 00:01:44,104 Our goal with pulmonary rehab 42 00:01:44,137 --> 00:01:48,074 is to help our patients gain a better 43 00:01:48,108 --> 00:01:49,876 understanding of their pulmonary disease. 44 00:01:49,909 --> 00:01:51,744 We have a variety of education topics that 45 00:01:51,778 --> 00:01:54,080 cover more than just pulmonary topics that they 46 00:01:54,114 --> 00:01:55,682 get to learn, 47 00:01:55,715 --> 00:01:58,651 like we go through anatomy and physiology, we 48 00:01:58,685 --> 00:02:01,087 want to help patients understand disease 49 00:02:01,121 --> 00:02:04,657 processes OWENS STILL DOES NOT LIKE ASKING FOR OR 50 00:02:04,691 --> 00:02:06,359 RECEIVING HELP fortunately my wife has a 51 00:02:06,392 --> 00:02:10,763 good sense of humor about things like that (laugh). 52 00:02:10,797 --> 00:02:14,434 BUT HE HAS TO ADMIT THAT PULMONARY REHAB HAS MADE 53 00:02:14,467 --> 00:02:15,235 HIS LIFE BETTER. 54 00:02:15,268 --> 00:02:16,870 I want to do the best i can. 55 00:02:16,903 --> 00:02:19,906 and sitting around is not really an option.