Wife bids to raise Pulmonary Fibrosis awareness in husband’s memory

Susan, who doesn’t want her surname published, said: “September is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month. Yet, not many people have ever heard of it, let alone understand what a terrible and devastating disease it truly is. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung condition  – characterised by the scarring and stiffening of lung tissue – which progressively impairs breathing and oxygen absorption.”

She went on: “It is widely considered a ‘Cinderella disease’ because it has very few treatment options. It is a terminal illness and, while cancer rightfully gets the publicity and funding, pulmonary fibrosis is relatively misunderstood and ignored by the wider public.”

Susan’s husband of 55 years, Les, passed away from the disease in April. 

Susan said: “His illness was caused by his decades of dirty,  hard work, spending 36 years working as a stamper in a drop forge here in Hartlepool.  Little did I realise back then that the black powder I used to wash from his filthy work clothes would ultimately cause his demise. Through the course of his illness, he went from being a strong, hardworking man enjoying his retirement on the Headland, to relying on oxygen 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the end, he was left unable to eat, speak, or move. On top of caring for him devotedly  for four years,  I had to fight  with the NHS just to fulfil his final wish – to be allowed to die at home, in his own bed, in my arms.”

She continued: “Surely pulmonary fibrosis deserves recognition? People desperately need to be made aware of the early symptoms – such as persistent breathlessness, coughing, and chronic fatigue, so they can seek help before it is too late.”

Les was a patient of Dr Prudon, at the University Hospital of North Tees.  A collection at his funeral raised £200 for the hospital’s Lung Health Department.

Susan added: “To push for change on a larger scale, I have also written to Jonathan Brash, our MP,  to raise awareness of how this disease impacts people in our town, and he, in turn, has written to the Health Secretary. Thank you for listening to Les’s story. I hope that by sharing our heartbreak, we can prevent another Hartlepool family from suffering in silence.”