Alice's Story
Alice maintains a normal life despite her illness. Keeping up with her favorite activities – including singing – in spite of her breathing troubles lets her lead the life she wants.
When Alice was diagnosed with bronchiectasis 24 years ago, she and her family were living in Brussels. This made for some interesting experiences in medical care, since everyone around her spoke French. When the technician conducting Alice’s first spirometry test to measure her lung function kept telling her “Soufflez! Soufflez! Soufflez!” she didn’t realize that she was telling her to blow!
After Alice returned to the States, a new pulmonologist recommended an electric chest percussor unit. Her husband used that on her once or twice a day for the next 17 years. While she enjoyed her husband reading to her while administering the treatments, it was often difficult to arrange a time that was convenient for both of them. And when he was away on business, Alice had to arrange for someone else to come in to administer her treatments.
Then, in April 2007, Alice was prescribed The Vest® Airway Clearance System. With it, she can administer her own treatments. “I can do it by myself and it’s wonderful! I can do it whatever time I choose and I don’t have to have my husband help me. It’s really all in my hands. I’m glad for that because I like my independence.”
And Alice doesn’t miss her husband reading to her too much, because now she listens to audio books during her treatments. She says they make the time go quickly — often one chapter and she’s done with her 20-minute treatment.
One of the things Alice likes best about The Vest® System is the customer service that comes with it. When she had a problem with the cord, customer service delivered a new unit the next day … no questions asked. And when Alice’s husband turned 65 and was eligible for Medicare, customer service reps cleared up billing issues that came along with that change. Alice also appreciates the way someone from the company regularly follows up on her satisfaction with The Vest® System. “It’s reassuring to have somebody who is concerned about how my treatment is going and is available to help me if I have issues.”
Alice is happy to be breathing easier. A musician by training, she loves to sing with her church choir. “My lung capacity is only about 70 percent. But as long I can keep my bronchiectasis under control, I can still sing. I still have enough breath control to do that, which means a great deal to me. It’s what I love to do!”
Now that she’s using The Vest® System for airway clearance, Alice is singing a happy tune.