Chronology
of Illness from 1996 - 1999
1996
- This was the beginning of serious treatment for Dennis. Dr.
Mark Millard of the Martha Foster Lung Center (Baylor Hospital) takes
a personal interest in each of his patients. After his initial
visit he recommended a therapy program for Dennis as well as
additional medication to treat his chronic bronchitis. Breathing
tests were performed regularly to track the progression of his
illness. He continued to work at his job and very seldom called
in sick. He just refused to let his health stop him. The picture
at right is of Dennis at his job. He operated an overhead crane
in a large aircraft hangar and was the person responsible if there was
an accident.
Dennis'
health was an ongoing battle for the
next 3 years. He had infections more often and if we decided to
take a trip, we planned for an infection so we could be
prepared. Dr. Millard talked to him about planning for a lung
transplant in the future. He also entered Dennis in any on-going
studies that might help his condition. In the fall of 1999, Dr.
Millard suggested lung volume reduction surgery as a possible
option. Dennis' ability to function normally on a day-to-day
basis had become increasingly more difficult. His job was
dangerous and required he have a sharp thought process to avoid
hurting himself and others. It also required his ability to walk
for extended periods while concentrating on the overhead crane he was
operating. When Dennis realized that he had come close to
hurting fellow workers on a number of occasions, he told Dr. Millard
to schedule him for the LVRS. There were quite a number of tests
for Dennis to complete in order to meet the criteria for the surgery
and during one of the tests, it was discovered that he had developed
asthma as well as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The asthma
disqualified him for the surgery at that time.
Dr.
Millard told him that he would not be able to have the surgery and
asked if he was ready to take his medical retirement. Dennis
really had no choice. Without the surgery, he knew it would just
be a matter of time before he was responsible for an accident and
there were no jobs he could be moved into that didn't require
abilities he no longer possessed. So, Dr. Millard filled out the
necessary forms for Social Security Disability and Dennis applied for
medical retirement from his company.
