We don’t often give space to an established medical product–or in this case a procedure–but Boston Scientific “BT” gave such profound new quality of life to our friend Tony Cook that we want to mention their page devoted to the “new Tony”>. Here is an excerpt.
My Life Prior to BT:
I’ve had asthma for most of my life. I was diagnosed at 3 years old. Growing up, emergency room visits and long stretches in oxygen tents became the norm for me. By the time I was in my forties I was so severe it was hard to sleep or hold down a job. I really wasn’t sure I was going to make it to my 50th birthday. We tried every medication under the sun, yet I still ended up in the emergency room often. I was hospitalized at least 3 times or more per year. I missed worked so often because of my asthma that I ran out of vacation and sick time. It impacted every aspect of my life. My activity level was so limited. I couldn’t exercise so I gained a lot of weight. Travelling was also difficult because I was always afraid I would catch a cold on the plane which would result in a severe asthma flare-up. When I saw the brochure for BT in my doctors’ office I wanted to know more right away. I felt like I was running out of options. I was happy to be one of the early patients treated with BT.
My Life Today:
I think I tolerated the procedures really well. I felt the tightness leave my chest and within a few months the difference in my asthma control was dramatic. I have had no ER trips or hospitalizations. BT has given me the feeling that I have so much time to make up for. In the five years since my BT I’ve been very busy. I’ve been able to exercise again and I’ve lost close to 50 pounds. I could write pages about the things I would have never tried before BT. I started running and currently I am ranked as one of the fastest 5K runners in the DC area. And I am such a more productive worker now. I used to miss so much work because of my asthma and now my manager tells me I work too hard!
Since BT, life has opened up for me. I don’t think twice about taking on new adventures. I’ve even started an acting career! I am in six episodes of this season of the Netflix series House of Cards. I know I would have never tried out for House of Cards before improving my asthma control. I was overweight and would have been too worried about being in front of a camera and having an asthma attack. Currently I am working with the Foundation for Virginia Hospital Center, strategizing on ways to raise more money for asthma research and care. This is exciting because all I want to do is help other asthmatics now.