Author: Leslie Toldo
Jim Hall’s job as a stationary steam engineer for General Motors (GM) required him to wear a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which looks a lot like scuba equipment. He worked in the powerhouse with boilers, and the SCBA was the equipment he needed to go into confined spaces or vessels.
“For safety, I had to be monitored with a yearly test for my respirator, to make sure it securely sealed against my face,” Jim said. “And every year, my doctor noticed my breathing was getting worse.”
Jim’s doctor referred him to McLaren Flint pulmonologist Dr. John Youssef, who diagnosed Jim with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
“I love Dr. Youssef. He is very caring and thoughtful. He doesn’t rush you. He listens to you,” Jim said.
Sixteen million Americans live with COPD, which causes difficulty breathing and can lead to death. Tobacco smoking is by far the leading risk factor.
“I was a smoker, but I quit after that,” Jim said. “COPD was a wake-up call. I was told if I wasn’t careful, it could kill me.”
The COPD diagnosis meant Jim would now have to see Dr. Youssef every six months instead of annually. In 2018, those more frequent visits turned out to be a blessing, because close monitoring allowed Dr. Youssef to detect a small cancer in the lining of Jim’s right lung.
“Fortunately, we were able to catch the cancer at an early stage back then,” Dr. Youssef said. “We now have technology, called ION, which allows us to catch lung cancer at it’s earlies stages.”
ION is a minimally invasive robotic-assisted bronchoscope procedure that allows doctors to look deeper into the lungs and biopsy smaller, previously unreachable nodules in the peripheral tissue. The technology and a new nurse navigator, who assists patients along their journeys, are part of McLaren Flint’s new Lung Nodule Program.
That program was not available when Dr. Youssef caught Jim’s cancer, a discovery that led to another life-altering change for Jim- it landed him in pulmonary rehab.
“After they treated the cancer, they had to fill that lung with talc to help prevent fluid from building up. It made my lung less pliant, so I needed rehab to learn how to breathe better with the talc there,” Jim said. “They start you off slow with light cardio and teach you breathing techniques.”
Pulmonary rehab made a day and night difference for Jim, who found he could breathe easier in more ways than one.
“I could do things a lot longer without having to stop and rest,” Jim said. “It used to take me half an hour to change the sheets on the bed. I was on oxygen, but not anymore, unless I am sleeping. I just kept saying, ‘I can do this.’”
Jim enjoyed rehab, but after 36 visits, it was no longer covered by insurance. Lucky for Jim, that did not put an end to his visits.
“I joined the McLaren Pulmonary Rehab Center’s maintenance program. It’s five dollars a visit, so it only costs me around 65 dollars a month,” Jim said. “You get to use all their equipment. The therapists are there; they don’t set my machines up anymore, but the thing about it is, they still watch to make sure I am okay. I feel safer there than a regular gym.”
Six years later, Jim is still working out three days a week at the McLaren Flint Pulmonary Rehab Center.
“I love the staff there. They are all very helpful. They have made a big difference in my life,” Jim said. “If it didn’t work, I wouldn’t be going. It’s a very helpful and caring environment. Anyone with breathing issues should consider it.”
To learn more about Ion technology and the McLaren Flint Lung Nodule Program visit mclaren.org/flintlungprogram.