COPD Info

A short birthday message for all here at COPD International.

On June 26, 2002, I sent to the other founders, Susie Bowers, Deb Hannigan, Billie Mahaffey, Ray Price, Cindy Schian and Dorothy Williams, the following message:

"Effective 1:07am EDT (6/26) Our website is Open for visitors........"

That very short simple message opened the cyber doors to what we have today. From the first hosted chats 3 Days later by Host-Deb (one of the founders) and Host Dan (our first volunteer Host), we have grown to 42 hosted chats per week. Our Library has grown to be one of the most read on the internet, and also features the writings of Bill Horden, the very first COPD Advocate, in a wing of the library that honors his name and work. Our message boards are used by a phenomenal number of people worldwide. The original format based on the wealth of experience of the founders has weathered the test of time, with only one part, Keep in Touch, needing a rewrite which has just been completed. We have also added the Remembrance section, paying tribute to those who have gone on before us, many paving the way for todays level of support and education.

Our growth has been phenomenal, with visits to the website at a rate that will far exceed a million per year....... and that number is growing almost daily. Our visitors come from over 150 countries now. In addition, we have many professionals who use us as a resource for information, as well as referring others to us.

All of these facts pale in comparison to the most important fact of all - namely that we, as COPD patients have this place to support each other - a place for oldtimers and as well as those who are just beginning to deal with this insidious disease.

Individually, we have seen our members give so much time to all.... as a group we have provided support and comfort to many right to the end.

Words can not express how that feels, for that is the intent and the driving force behind the founders, the committee, and our awesome volunteers.

"Thanks" seems to be so inadequate,

But thank you one and all,

cg

Over the years, we have had many of our active COPD friends simply disappear suddenly. As COPD patients, we would begin to worry about them, not knowing if they were ill, in the hospital, or worse.

Others who live alone have found themselves in the unfortunate situation of winding up in the hospital due to an emergency, with no means to contact their friends and support lists.

For many, COPD also tends to make hermits of them, with diminishing contact with others.

All three of these situations have been addressed in the new "Keep In Touch" program at COPD International.

For more information, or to join, go to:
http://www.copd-international.com/Keep_in_Touch/

During the past years, we have lost many of our friends and members of our COPD family.

Some we have known by name, others only by nickname, and still others have remained totally unknown, preferring to read, learn and seek comfort in the knowledge that they were not alone.

In honor all COPD patients everywhere, both known and unknown, who have gone on before us, we have dedicated a new section of the website.

http://www.COPD-International.com/remembering