The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

When she was first diagnosed with interstitial lung disease in 2011, Glendamae Black said the condition became the focal point of her life, affecting her in every way possible.

“I was unable to provide for my children and take care of myself. I was restricted in movement and felt helpless,” she told Tribune Health.

The Mayo Clinic defines interstitial lung disease (IDL) as a large group of disorders characterised by progressive scarring of the lung tissue between and supporting the air sacs. The scarring associated with the condition may cause progressive lung stiffness, eventually affecting a person’s ability to breathe and get enough oxygen into their bloodstream.

Medication, the clinic says, may slow the damage of interstitial lung disease, but many people never regain full use of their lungs. Lung transplant is an option for some people who have worsening interstitial lung disease despite treatment.

Before her diagnosis, Ms Black had never been seriously sick, nor had she ever spent any time in hospital.

Today, every day presents a new challenge, but one the mother-of-two is thankful for. She said she is just happy to be alive and to able to provide for her children.

“I can say that my life is not so restricted because I’ve learned how to balance my life. This was no easy task. I am able to work and be more active in my children’s life. I know my limits and try not to over extend myself,” she told Tribune Health.

Through her entire ordeal Ms Black said God, her children and family became her life line, giving her the strength to fight and the will to live. And she said without God in her life, nothing is possible and with Him everything is possible.

“My experience living with this condition starts every day that I wake up. Most mornings I wake up with a dry, hacking cough that doesn’t get better and experience some form of shortness of breath, and it can come from just taking a bath. I have difficulty walking up steps, hills and experience fatigue as well as mood swings, which I believe may be a side effect of the medications,” said Ms Black.

Despite this, she is very active in my children’s life.

“I love spending time with them and assisting them with homework and school projects. I just want to spend as much time with them as possible. Family means everything to me and I thank God every day for allowing me to be in their life. My parents (both deceased) were big on family and their love for us was felt at all times,” she said.

As a lung transplant is very costly and finding a donor, once listed, can be a long wait, Ms Black sought another method of treatment at the Okyanos Medical Centre located in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

There, she is being offered adult stem cell therapy treatment, which she explains is a minimal invasive, non-surgical option for persons with her condition.

“It is my understanding that a treatment as such may improve the quality of my life, such as better breathing, increased energy and stamina and a reduction of bronchial infections,” said Ms Black.

Aware that she will incur additional expenses for further diagnostic tests and procedures, medical care and treatment, Ms Black is putting together a fundraising event in the form of a lingerie fashion show to help defray costs.

The event will take place this Saturday at the Basil Sands Mansion grounds, beginning at 6pm.

“This is the first time I have ever spoken out about my condition to the public. It has taken me three years to understand and accept what I am dealing with. It is my hope that this information will assist or help someone who is experiencing this condition as well. I just want to let them know that they are not alone. I hope that something I’ve said will motivate and help them in some shape or form. I realise now that being sick is not a sign of weakness,” Ms Black said.

“If you see me you would not think that there isn’t anything wrong with me, but every day I wake up it is a struggle. However the will to survive keeps me focused and grounded,” said Ms Black.

She believes there are many things in people’s homes as well as their work places that may contribute or can cause ILD, and special attention should be paid to everyday environs.

“Causes include environmental pollutants, autoimmune diseases, exposure to organic and inorganic agents in the home or workplace, medications, and some types of radiation. In some cases, the cause is unknown. I feel that once we as Bahamians educate ourselves about this condition and learn from our experience that this will help us to fight and win this battle,” said Ms Black.