Beef Producers Association

Farmer’s Daughter in the middle of Hillbilly Heaven

Home is where the heart is and mine is in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. That’s me right there in the middle!

the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia on the Montgomery Farm to Cape Canaveral, FL. My name is Kathleen Ann Montgomery. I grew up on a dairy and beef farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Carroll County, Virginia. From the age of five, I got bronchitis or pneumonia every year. As a result, my Pulmologist (Lung Doctor) from Duke University diagnosed me with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) when I was seventeen. COPD is a life threatening lung disease. Most people get COPD from smoking, but I got COPD even though I have never smoked and have rarely been around anyone who smoked. My mom and brother thought I was going to die for sure! My lungs were sensitive, tight, and weak. Most of the time, just breathing hurt! However, it was not all bad because I have learned to live life one breath at a time. Now I appreciate every breath I am given! I know that God must consider me strong to have given so much to overcome. Now, I Can Breathe! I Can Breathe! I Can Breathe! I wasn’t expected to make it this far, let alone be as healthy as I am now! Name: Kathleen Age: 25 Living Life One Breath at a Time “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” ~ Isaiah 40:30-31~ I have COPD COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Lung Problems Caused By Occupational Exposure to Polluted Air! Farmer’s Lung, Home Heated with Wood, and Schools Heated with Coal, etc! Check out my main website, www.kathleenannmontgomery.com to find out more about me personally. My name is Kathleen Ann Montgomery. I grew up on a dairy and beef farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Carroll County, Virginia. From the age of five, I got bronchitis or pneumonia every year. As a result, my Pulmologist (Lung Doctor) from Duke University diagnosed me with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) when I was seventeen. COPD is a life threatening lung disease. Most people get COPD from smoking, but I got COPD even though I have never smoked and have rarely been around anyone who smoked. My lungs were sensitive, tight, and weak. Most of the time, just breathing hurt! Dr. Steele discovered that there was no air getting to the lower part of my right lung. He discussed that removing that section in my lung might make it easier for me to breathe. My breathing was low enough to where people are usually put on oxygen. However, Dr. Steele did not want me to get me dependent on oxygen. He wanted me to keep fighting to get better. Young bodies heal easier and I was only 17, so he wanted to give me a fighting chance! After getting bronchitis and pneumonia for so many years, my body was way too weak for my lungs to clean themselves. Since my lungs were damaged from bronchitis, I produced a lot of mucus. It was my lungs’ way of trying desperately to clean themselves. In addition, plugs were formed from mucus left over from the bronchitis and pneumonia, which blocked many of my airways. Even though my lungs were ready to collapse at any second, my family and I were determined that I lift weights, no matter how light or few of reps I did. That helped me to keep up my strength. Dr. Steele, my Duke Pulmonologist (Lung Doctor) suggested that the salt air from the east coast of Florida might help my lungs. He wanted us to try it out as an alternative to lung surgery. Upon visiting eastern Florida beaches, it felt like God was sweeping out my lungs! So when I was seventeen in August of 2001, my mother, brother, and I moved to Cape Canaveral, Florida. I was able to breathe a whole lot better, and I coughed up several blockages (plugs) from my lungs. Dr. Steele said it was from the warm salt air and everything I was doing. When there was a strong odor or allergen in the air, I had to wear a mask just to have a chance of breathing clearer air. Since we have moved to Florida, I haven’t gotten pneumonia. For two years, I have gone without bronchitis. I now have emphysema, but my lungs are clear.

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