Sheila Johnson was ready to die.
After being exposed to asbestos in her childhood home and again while working for more than a decade at a military hospital, Johnson was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. The disease includes lung scarring, resulting in shortness of breath, dry cough and fatigue. Several years later, her pulmonary fibrosis had advanced and her oxygen level was so low that she couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without taking a break.
“She had been active her whole life,” Victoria Famuyide, DO, FACOI, MBA, pulmonary and critical care, Carle Foundation Hospital, said. Now, she was overwhelmed, sick and tired.
“She was about to give up,” Dr. Famuyide said. “She said, ‘I’m ready to die.’”
“I thought the disease was claiming me,” Johnson said. “I thought, ‘OK, I’m tired. I’m ready to rest.’”
Dr. Famuyide prescribed an inhaler, told Johnson’s family that she needed help and convinced her to go to pulmonary rehabilitation.
That was in June 2023.
“Two to three months later, it was like night and day,” Dr. Famuyide said. “She had more energy. She was so happy. She didn’t look defeated.”
“It’s been a life-changer for me,” Johnson said.
Johnson is among many Carle Health Pulmonary Rehabilitation patients getting a new lease on life. In Urbana, Danville and Mattoon, the number of visits to pulmonary rehab increased by 25% in one year.
During the first six months of 2023, the pulmonary rehab team across the region supported 4,042 visits. During the first six months of 2024, former patients visited 5,067 times, an increase of 1,025 visits.
“It’s amazing,” Dr. Famuyide said.
That trend isn’t happening everywhere. During an American Thoracic Society conference, some doctors were frustrated that patients weren’t going to pulmonary rehab.
“I told them, ‘Well, we’re not having that problem. We have a waiting list,’” Dr. Famuyide said.
Pulmonary rehab success benefits patients, Carle Health
A concerted education campaign deserves credit, Dr. Famuyide and Sarah Moore, RRT, respiratory therapist and respiratory care practice coordinator for Carle Physician Group in Urbana, Danville and Mattoon, said.
And there’s the word of mouth from former patients.
“The impact that pulmonary rehab has on people with lung disease is huge,” Dr. Famuyide said. “Their quality of life improves; they are able to engage in activities of daily living despite living with the disease. They have less anxiety and depression.”
When there’s a benefit to former patients, there’s a benefit to Carle Health. Often this comes in the form of lower admission rates, reducing the number of patients in the Emergency Department and improving outcomes for patients working toward a dedicated care plan.
Dr. Famuyide and her colleagues also are a big reason more patients are using the services.
When Dr. Famuyide became the Carle Foundation Hospital pulmonary rehab medical director in late 2019, she began a program to get more patients into pulmonary rehab and worked alongside colleagues to help educate patients and referring providers.
Carle Foundation Hospital offers Phase 2 pulmonary rehab for patients with moderate lung disease upon discharge from the hospital. That's an individualized plan of strength training, flexibility, endurance exercise, breathing techniques and education for one hour, three days a week for 12 weeks, Moore said. Phase 3, or the maintenance program, follows Phase 2. "We recommend that patients continue to exercise two to three times a week for the rest of their lives," Moore said.
“Patients have reported being able to do more with less shortness of breath,” Moore said. “Their quality of life improves, they gain confidence and have hope again.”
“I’m very proud of my team,” Moore said.
A Special but Not Unique Story
In 2013, 16 years after Johnson retired following a 22-year military career, she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.
Johnson did everything right to combat her pulmonary fibrosis but, by June 2023, the disease had progressed to the point that she was out of breath walking around a room, frustrated and ready to give up.
“I had almost given up,” Johnson, 68, of Champaign, said. “I thought I was reaching the end stages.”
But when she gave pulmonary rehab a try, the breathing techniques and exercises from therapists and ideas from other participants had a remarkable impact. The benefit was almost instantaneous, and that was motivating, she said.
“Her consistency was huge,” Moore said. “She took what we told her and put it into action.” Within two to three months, she had more energy and a new, confident outlook on life.
Dr. Famuyide said, “She doesn’t feel that anything is holding her back.”
Johnson continues Phase 3 pulmonary rehab on her own and does housework and gardening at her own pace. On days when she can’t get to Carle Foundation Hospital Pulmonary Rehabilitation, she goes to a big box store, grabs a cart and walks.
“Her story is typical,” Moore said. “We have so many stories of people who have said, ‘You have changed my life for the better.’”
“Pulmonary rehab has given me my life back,” Johnson said.
“We want more people to experience the benefits of pulmonary rehab,” Dr. Famuyide said.
If you think you qualify for pulmonary rehab and are interested, talk with your primary care physician about getting a referral. For more information on pulmonary medicine, click here or watch this Facebook video.
After being exposed to asbestos in her childhood home and again while working for more than a decade at a military hospital, Johnson was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. The disease includes lung scarring, resulting in shortness of breath, dry cough and fatigue. Several years later, her pulmonary fibrosis had advanced and her oxygen level was so low that she couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without taking a break.
“She had been active her whole life,” Victoria Famuyide, DO, FACOI, MBA, pulmonary and critical care, Carle Foundation Hospital, said. Now, she was overwhelmed, sick and tired.
“She was about to give up,” Dr. Famuyide said. “She said, ‘I’m ready to die.’”
“I thought the disease was claiming me,” Johnson said. “I thought, ‘OK, I’m tired. I’m ready to rest.’”
Dr. Famuyide prescribed an inhaler, told Johnson’s family that she needed help and convinced her to go to pulmonary rehabilitation.
That was in June 2023.
“Two to three months later, it was like night and day,” Dr. Famuyide said. “She had more energy. She was so happy. She didn’t look defeated.”
“It’s been a life-changer for me,” Johnson said.
Johnson is among many Carle Health Pulmonary Rehabilitation patients getting a new lease on life. In Urbana, Danville and Mattoon, the number of visits to pulmonary rehab increased by 25% in one year.
During the first six months of 2023, the pulmonary rehab team across the region supported 4,042 visits. During the first six months of 2024, former patients visited 5,067 times, an increase of 1,025 visits.
“It’s amazing,” Dr. Famuyide said.
That trend isn’t happening everywhere. During an American Thoracic Society conference, some doctors were frustrated that patients weren’t going to pulmonary rehab.
“I told them, ‘Well, we’re not having that problem. We have a waiting list,’” Dr. Famuyide said.
Pulmonary rehab success benefits patients, Carle Health
A concerted education campaign deserves credit, Dr. Famuyide and Sarah Moore, RRT, respiratory therapist and respiratory care practice coordinator for Carle Physician Group in Urbana, Danville and Mattoon, said.
And there’s the word of mouth from former patients.
“The impact that pulmonary rehab has on people with lung disease is huge,” Dr. Famuyide said. “Their quality of life improves; they are able to engage in activities of daily living despite living with the disease. They have less anxiety and depression.”
When there’s a benefit to former patients, there’s a benefit to Carle Health. Often this comes in the form of lower admission rates, reducing the number of patients in the Emergency Department and improving outcomes for patients working toward a dedicated care plan.
Dr. Famuyide and her colleagues also are a big reason more patients are using the services.
When Dr. Famuyide became the Carle Foundation Hospital pulmonary rehab medical director in late 2019, she began a program to get more patients into pulmonary rehab and worked alongside colleagues to help educate patients and referring providers.
Carle Foundation Hospital offers Phase 2 pulmonary rehab for patients with moderate lung disease upon discharge from the hospital. That's an individualized plan of strength training, flexibility, endurance exercise, breathing techniques and education for one hour, three days a week for 12 weeks, Moore said. Phase 3, or the maintenance program, follows Phase 2. "We recommend that patients continue to exercise two to three times a week for the rest of their lives," Moore said.
“Patients have reported being able to do more with less shortness of breath,” Moore said. “Their quality of life improves, they gain confidence and have hope again.”
“I’m very proud of my team,” Moore said.
A Special but Not Unique Story
In 2013, 16 years after Johnson retired following a 22-year military career, she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.
Johnson did everything right to combat her pulmonary fibrosis but, by June 2023, the disease had progressed to the point that she was out of breath walking around a room, frustrated and ready to give up.
“I had almost given up,” Johnson, 68, of Champaign, said. “I thought I was reaching the end stages.”
But when she gave pulmonary rehab a try, the breathing techniques and exercises from therapists and ideas from other participants had a remarkable impact. The benefit was almost instantaneous, and that was motivating, she said.
“Her consistency was huge,” Moore said. “She took what we told her and put it into action.” Within two to three months, she had more energy and a new, confident outlook on life.
Dr. Famuyide said, “She doesn’t feel that anything is holding her back.”
Johnson continues Phase 3 pulmonary rehab on her own and does housework and gardening at her own pace. On days when she can’t get to Carle Foundation Hospital Pulmonary Rehabilitation, she goes to a big box store, grabs a cart and walks.
“Her story is typical,” Moore said. “We have so many stories of people who have said, ‘You have changed my life for the better.’”
“Pulmonary rehab has given me my life back,” Johnson said.
“We want more people to experience the benefits of pulmonary rehab,” Dr. Famuyide said.
If you think you qualify for pulmonary rehab and are interested, talk with your primary care physician about getting a referral. For more information on pulmonary medicine, click here or watch this Facebook video.
Categories: Culture of Quality
Tags: Danville, lungs, Mattoon, pulmonary, rehabilitation, Urbana