Concentric Media

BREATHE EASY: COPD & Me

Making of

My older sister, Lois, had always been a spirited person. When she developed emphysema, and she began to need supplemental oxygen, at first, she didn't want to be seen out of the house with her oxygen tank. Gradually, she realized that she wanted to live life as fully as she could with oxygen. I was impressed with her courage and vigor, and decided to bring in a videographer to document some of the activities she does while using oxygen, these inculde exercise class, supermarket shopping and teaching.

Reviews

Resources

The COPD Alliance provides access to the following COPD resources for clinicians and their patients, many of which are free and available for download:
http://www.copd.org/resources/patient

COPD Information Line: Fellow COPD patients man this line daily and are available to answer your calls at 1-866-316-2673.

COPD Support Inc: Being diagnosed with COPD can cause you to feel frustrated, lonely and hopeless. It is important that you know you are not alone. Visit COPD Support Inc. to find out how they can help you cope during this difficult time. International COPD Coalition (ICC) The International COPD Coalition (ICC) is a nonprofit organization made up of COPD patient organizations from around the world, who work together to improve health and healthcare access for patients who have COPD.
International Support Network

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Fact Sheet: http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/copd/resources/facts-figures/COPD-Fact-Sheet.html

Synopsis

BREATHE EASY is a film about a woman living an active, positive life with the handicap of severe COPD/emphysema. The film documents the fact that she brings her supplemental oxygen tank with her as she teaches, participates in exercise class and goes to the supermarket. Her example, of living an active life with this challenge, becomes an invitation for anyone at any age with any condition to live as fully as possible. Even with a physical problem, a person is still free to choose how to approach life. In the words of psychologist Albert Ellis, "People are disturbed not by what happens to them, but by their view of what happens to them."