Tina lives in Tennessee with her husband and daughter. In October 2008, Tina suffered with pneumonia that lingered for nine months. Doctors later diagnosed Tina with a rare and congenital condition, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin. The deficiency of Alpha-1 can cause severe breathing difficulties in adults (central hypoventilation) and is often referred to as “genetic COPD.”
Tina says, “I am doing great, I pace 24/7, and I carry my machine in a purse and half the time people don’t even know… I got to watch my daughter graduate high school and college. I didn’t give up and the [Avery] pacers saved my life.”
Source: ABD-PP-015, Rev B 12/2020
