Pulmonary
Rehabilitation
Penny's Story
Penny Clarke is able to cook, drive, enjoy the beach and go shopping, activities that are important to her and her family. |
Penny Clarke has been battling chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) for nine years. A retired nurse, she is familiar with caring for
people. Now she considers it her job to care for herself and, most importantly, maintain
her independence. With the help of the pulmonary outpatient rehabilitation program at
The Miriam Hospital, Penny is doing just that.
She is able to cook, drive,
enjoy the beach and go shopping
by herself, activities that
are important to her and her
family. Penny visits the outpatient
facility three times a
week and raves about the
staff. “They’re always there
to listen, whether you’re
depressed or not, on both the
good and the bad days.
They’re interested in your life
and push you to do a little
more each time,” says Penny.
This past winter Penny was hospitalized and upon her return to the outpatient program she was
greeted with applause from all the staff. “My daughter had tears in her eyes. She said, ‘Mom,
these people really care about you.’” Penny values not only how much the staff cares about their patients, but also the level of professionalism
and confidentiality they maintain at all times. She has also found comfort in talking to
others in the program who share her disease. “It helps to know you’re not the only one,” she says.
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