"Like a Miracle"

W.J. of Hardinsburg, KY is a new oxygen patient, but he has very quickly come to appreciate how much of a difference his portable oxygen concentrator has made in his life. In fact, "it's like a miracle," he says.  Currently, W.J. is undergoing weekly treatment at his local hospital, and has regular doctor appointments.  He is out of his home 4 or 5 times a week, and with this kind of schedule standard oxygen tanks would not work for him. "I used oxygen tanks for a short time, but they were too heavy."

Fortunately, W.J. was referred to Open-Aire and he was able to get a lightweight portable oxygen concentrator that has greatly reduced the burden of his hospital trips. Now that the tanks are gone, his trips to the hospital are much easier. "One battery is all it takes," he says. "That gets me to the hospital. I use their equipment while I’m there, and when it’s time to leave my portable oxygen concentrator is still ready to go."  We wish W.J. the best, and hope his trips to the hospital end soon so he can return to  an active and mobile life.

The Freedom to Mow!

Jerry B. of Mansfield, OH always took great pride in his lawn. Every weekend he would spend his time trimming bushes, weeding, and mowing.  "I start mowing from one angle and then switch to the other angle on the next pass to give it a checkerboard look. Neighbors would tell me I manicure my yard, and not just cut it," says Jerry. However when he was prescribed oxygen tanks, he could no longer do it. Trying to mow while dragging an oxygen tank on the grass was just too difficult.

For several years Jerry was stuck with oxygen tanks, limited to what he could do, and feeling very confined. Simply leaving his house was difficult, and taking care of his lawn like he used to was out of the question. However, one day he saw a commercial for Open-Aire and thought maybe a portable concentrator could be an alternative to oxygen tanks. After speaking with his doctor and Open-Aire case managers, it was determined that a portable concentrator could be a great option for him. Once he was given the go-ahead he did not waste time in switching from tanks to a portable oxygen concentrator.

Once he had his portable oxygen concentrator, Jerry was able to mow his lawn again for the first time in three years. He tells us, "I still can’t do it all at once. I have to take a couple breaks, but I get it done and it looks great!"  Now Jerry's lawn is looking manicured again, and the compliments from the neighbors have returned.

Not Enough Tanks

When Richard R. of Rosendale, NY was using oxygen tanks he never had enough. A single oxygen tank wasn't good for anything. One tank wasn’t even enough to get him to his doctor’s office and back home. No matter where he went or what he did, he always had to bring several spares with him, and even then if an appointment ran late he could run out of oxygen. One time while visiting friends at a nursing home, he had to borrow THEIR oxygen because he had run out.

Finally, after seeing a commercial for Open-Aire, he thought a portable oxygen concentrator would eliminate his constant need for extra oxygen tanks. Open-Aire case managers helped him through the process, and soon he was able to enjoy portable oxygen.

Now he can finally go outside the house for more than a short time, and doesn’t have to worry about running out of oxygen. Richard says, "yesterday I went to the doctor, did some shopping, yapped it up with a couple of buddies and when I got home I still had plenty of battery life." While he was at the doctor’s office he enthusiastically showed it off to her. His doctor was happy he wasn’t using tanks anymore and told him that if he had any issues she would help resolve the problem. Richard just smiled at her, pointed to his portable concentrator and said, "the problem has already been resolved."

Feeling Valued

Before she was with Open-Aire, Rosemary M. of East Chicago, IN had an oxygen provider who was anything but interested in her as a customer. One time she ran out of oxygen tanks and they couldn’t deliver new ones. After that experience, she knew it was time to find a new oxygen provider. One that would value her as a customer, and would provide something other than tanks.

Oxygen tanks were a big hassle for Rosemary. She likes to go into downtown Chicago to meet with her friends for lunch and shopping, but the tanks made it extremely difficult. She could no longer take the train to get to town. Instead, she had to drive and ask her friends to help her carry her replacement tanks.

It only took her two months to realize this would not do. She started a quest to find a new provider. She spoke to a few different companies, but none of them seemed very interested in her. That changed when she found Open-Aire. The Case Manager she worked with was eager to help her out, and find the right portable oxygen concentrator for her.  Open-Aire was able to work with her doctor to get her a portable oxygen concentrator quickly, and made her feel valued as a customer the entire time. 

“Customer service is very important to me,” says Rosemary. “Everyone at Open-Aire has been very pleasant. Not just polite. You can hear that they are interested in their voice. They take an interest. They went beyond my expectations.”

No Excuse Not to Exercise

When Michael M. of West Valley City, Utah was diagnosed with COPD his doctor stressed to him the importance of exercise for maintaining good health. "That’s a nice idea, but it’s too hard and awkward to exercise with heavy oxygen equipment," he says. Fortunately he did not have to deal with oxygen tanks or other heavy equipment for too long before he saw a commercial for Open-Aire. He found Open-Aire quick and easy to deal with, and it wasn’t too long before he had a new portable oxygen concentrator.

Michael really appreciates the mobility his portable oxygen concentrator allows him. Now he’s able to be more active and do the exercise that he’s supposed to do. He also discovered that one of the additional accessories has allowed him even greater freedom. Michael says, "The backpack* is really handy. I put it on and my hands are free. It makes it easier to exercise. I can use the treadmill or ride the stationary bike without any problems."

Besides the gym, Michael also stays active by using his portable oxygen concentrator while he works around the house and in his backyard. While doing some yard work a few other people have noticed him using it. His neighbor was recently diagnosed with COPD and when he saw Michael using his, he had a lot of questions about it.  "After he saw mine he was sold. Now he’s getting one too!"

*Backpacks are not part of the portable oxygen concentrators insurance set up package, but are available for purchase along with other accessories.

Impressing Everyone

Frances J. of Parma, MI lost part of a lung back in 2004 during a surgery for her cancer. Since then she had been using oxygen off and on, until last year when she was prescribed full-time use. At that point she had enough experience using tanks to know she did not want to use them full-time. “I used to go out a lot and do some traveling. I couldn’t do that any longer with oxygen tanks. With a tank, I can only be out for a couple hours at a time.”

A life with oxygen tanks wasn’t going to work for Frances. Fortunately she learned about Open-Aire’s portable oxygen concentrators, and with some help from her doctors and Open-Aire case managers it wasn’t long before she was able to have one of her own. Frances’ doctors are very impressed with her portable oxygen concentrator. Her primary physician recommended Open-Aire to another of his patients who wants to continue playing golf. Her pulmonologist has started to recommend portable concentrators to some of his other patients as well.

Even her previous oxygen provider seems impressed. Once Frances was comfortable with her portable oxygen concentrator, she called her previous provider to pick up her old equipment. He insisted that it wouldn’t work, and asked if he could see it. Frances happily showed it to him. Frances says, “While he was looking at it I told him I have up to 12 hours of use at a time with it. After that he said ‘okay I give up’ and left with my old equipment.”

A Traveling Grandmother, Mom and Sister

Betty V. of Spearfish, ND has been with Open-Aire for over four years and in that time she's experienced many of the conveniences that come with a portable oxygen concentrator. She doesn't have to schedule tank deliveries and she doesn’t worry about running out of oxygen. Her favorite thing is just being able to get up and go!

"I'm very pleased with my portable oxygen concentrator.  I have more freedom than before. I can get out and go. I don't just have to stay indoors all of the time," says Betty.  She loves spending time in the outdoors. If it’s not too warm or too cold she’ll go for a walk or a drive. She says, "I like to get in my car and go riding with my sister. Other times I go driving through the Black Hills by myself."

Her portable oxygen concentrator has made traveling much easier than with tanks. She just plugs it into her car's outlet, and she can stay out as long as she'd like. Aside from car trips, Betty’s portable oxygen concentrator also lets her fly without any hassle. Not long ago she flew to Colorado to see her daughter and granddaughter. 

Later this year she is planning a big trip with her sister. The two of them are planning to make a six hour drive to Wyoming to visit their brother. "We always stop while we cross the Big Horn Mountains and take in the views and the natural beauty." We hope to hear back from her and maybe she'll share some pictures of those mountain views.

Pushing the Tanks Aside

Richard B. of Pleasanton, TX was having difficulty getting used to life with oxygen tanks. Traveling with oxygen tanks, and having to schedule deliveries was tough enough, but dealing with how to store the many tanks he needed was a daily difficulty. "Before I switched to a portable oxygen concentrator I was going through at least 10 oxygen tanks a week," says Richard. It didn't take long before Richard grew tired of the inconvenience and clutter of oxygen tanks, and that's when he found Open-Aire.

After working with Richard and his doctor, Open-Aire case managers were able to find a portable oxygen concentrator that best suited his needs. He is very happy with the features his portable concentrator provides, especially how it eliminates so many of the problems that he was forced to put up with while using oxygen tanks. "I appreciate the fact that I can go 9 hours without a recharge," says Richard. That allows him the opportunity to travel outside the home, without the worry that he might run out of oxygen.

Now that he has a portable oxygen concentrator Richard's life is closer to how it used to be before he was prescribed oxygen. "I can't do everything I used to do, but I haven't let the failure of my lungs hold me back too much." He uses it to go to his grandkids' basketball games, attend his Masonic meetings, and any other activities that send him outside the home. Best of all, the tanks are all gone and his home is free of all that clutter.

She's Never at Home!

Earlier this year Virginia M. of Clinton, NY was prescribed oxygen for her COPD. Her oxygen provider gave her a large concentrator and a supply of oxygen tanks that were too bulky for her to manage. Going out with the tanks was difficult for Virginia. They were heavy, and they never seemed to last for as long as they were supposed to. The shortages made it too hard for her to plan for trips outside of her home. She started to become frustrated and didn't know what to do. "I didn't know if any alternative existed. I thought that's all there was," says Virginia. Without seeing any other options she ended up staying at home all the time and started to become depressed.

Fortunately, one day Virginia saw a commercial for portable oxygen concentrators from Open-Aire. After a phone call with Open-Aire, Virginia was able to get the information she needed, and her pulmonary doctor helped with the paperwork she needed. A short time later she received her equipment, and she and her doctor are both very pleased with the results since making the switch.

Now that Virginia has a portable oxygen concentrator she goes out more than she did, even before being prescribed oxygen. She takes trips to the mall, the casino, the grocery store, goes out to lunch with her sister, and is taking full advantage of being mobile again. In fact, her son Frank has trouble keeping track of her. According to him, "now that she has her portable concentrator, she’s never at home!"

Tour of Honor

Peter D. of New York is a 90-year-old veteran of World War II, and a true American hero. Later this month, Peter will be joining a group of veterans on a trip to Washington, D.C. for Honor Flight, a group that transports our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit the monuments and reflect at their memorials. The trip could have been much more difficult for him though, because earlier this year Peter was prescribed oxygen due to his Pulmonary Fibrosis. 

Even at 90 he’s still very active. He does his own shopping, goes out on drives, and visits his friends in the neighborhood. So when he was prescribed oxygen it was a difficult change. He found his entire set-up of tanks and concentrators to be very difficult to use. “You have to be an engineer to hook them up. You have to wait for delivery. And you can’t take them on a plane,” says Peter.

Fortunately Peter learned about Open-Aire soon afterwards, and he was able to get a new portable oxygen concentrator. Now Peter’s trip to DC will be much easier. “The portable oxygen concentrator does everything for me. It lasts me all day. I can take it on a plane. It even reminds me to breathe the right way.”

We thank Peter for his service, and we’ll be sure to check in with him again to see how he enjoyed his Honor Flight trip.

Going Back to the Theme Park

Carolyn S. of Wylie, TX was put on oxygen earlier this spring after she went to the hospital for a bout of pneumonia. The provider her doctor set her up did not make things easy for her. She was given a basic set-up that included heavy tanks and a large concentrator. Walking with the tanks was very difficult and it made leaving the house a real chore. Within two months they had to switch out her concentrator three times because they kept breaking.

The last straw came when she tried to go to Six Flags Over Texas with her family. Her provider couldn't give her lightweight equipment, and the oxygen tanks she had were so heavy that she eventually had to leave them in the car. The results were not good. “I tried to walk around without the tanks for a little while, and I nearly passed out” says Carolyn. It was a difficult situation for her to be in, and she decided she needed a better solution. If she had to be on oxygen she wanted to do it on her terms.

So she approached her doctor about a lightweight portable concentrator from Open-Aire, and after working with an Open-Aire Case Manager he agreed it would be better for her. On her next visit to her doctor she was able to easily walk into the office and was breathing without any trouble. Everyone agreed she made the right decision by choosing Open-Aire. Now Carolyn has the confidence to go back out and live life the same way she used to. “I'm already planning on going back to Six Flags again, and this time I'll be able to use my portable concentrator and stay as long as I want.”

A Much Better Quality of Life

Recently we spoke with Jan Frye Hill of North Carolina. Her father Wade was an Open-Aire customer for two years, and sadly passed away early this Spring. Wade was a very happy Open-Aire customer though, and Jan wanted to share a little bit of his story with us.

Wade, a Sunday school teacher of over 50 years, had become afflicted with several health problems due to congestive heart failure and lung cancer.  Traditional oxygen tanks were only adding to his difficulties. Fortunately he learned about portable oxygen concentrators and Open-Aire. Wade's portable oxygen concentrator made his life easier and the impact it made was instant. It was easy for him to put on his shoulder and go. With it he was able to go to outings with friends, do his shopping, see the Atlanta Braves play, and go back to teaching Sunday school.

Wade was even able to visit his daughter, Phyllis, who has a home at the beach. Previously it was very difficult for Wade to make that trip to see her. It was very inconvenient to have tanks and concentrators delivered to wherever he wanted to go on vacation. With his portable oxygen concentrator he needed to do nothing more but plug his concentrator into the car and go.  Jan sums it up best though. She says, “His portable oxygen concentrator gave him a much better quality of life and gave his family comfort knowing he could do everything he wanted.”

Open-Aire, Fresh Air

It didn't take long for Vincent Deroma of Greenacres, FL to realize that living with oxygen tanks was not how he wanted to live his life. He was tired of the hardships of carrying tanks around, the inconvenience of scheduling deliveries and the constant worry that he may not have enough oxygen.  When he saw Open-Aire's commercial for their portable oxygen concentrators, he didn't wait too long to call.

In just a few weeks an EverGo/EverFlo bundle arrived to his home, and it wasn't long before all of his complaints about tanks were a thing of the past. Vincent tells us that in addition to the obvious benefits of a portable concentrator, he is finding a difference with the quality of the air he is breathing in. Vincent says, "the air smells better. It smells fresher. The air in the tanks always felt stale. My air feels clean now." It was an unexpected surprise that makes him even happier with his decision to switch from tanks to a portable oxygen concentrator.

Home On The Range With A FULL House

Judith Rauch is a lady of the land. Appreciating the simple things in life, Judith calls a 2 ½ acre stretch of Illinois land her home, and has for an entire lifetime. Judith is a strong, sophisticated woman. Even after a series of unfortunate events which landed her the inability to walk, Judith still persevered. This spunky 70 year old wasn’t going to just lie down and accept a life of imprisonment. Judith decided to do something about it. She got up the courage and strength to put herself through months and months of strenuous and at times painful rehabilitation. After 6 months of dedication and focus, Judith improved her ability to walk with a walker, and after a few more months, she could walk with a cane. Inside, Judith was solid and strong but found she was falling frequently. On occasion, she ended up in the hospital for emergency procedures. With the added burden of hauling oxygen tanks across her huge stretch of land, sometimes it was impossible to get around, anywhere. At times all she could do was stand outside waving her arms, in hope of catching her husbands attention, and getting some help. It wasn’t easy, Judith says, with her active lifestyle which includes attending Seniors Groups and women’s groups at her church. Not to mention her active participation in the Red Hat Ladies Society meetings & outings. Judith managed to juggle regaining her mobility, while at the same time her and her husband had a full house of family, and foster kids. Judith wanted to take care of EVERYONE.

Finally, a doctor recommended a power chair. Judith marveled at the idea of regaining her mobility, and efficiency. Before she knew it someone was at her home delivering her new power chair. . .Judith was revving to go! Judith was also ready to move on from her oxygen tanks, there was no holding her back now. This was a whole new life, and a whole new world! Once she got her Open-Aire unit she could finally be rid of all those tanks and machines cluttering her house! New way to get air, and new way to get anywhere, Judith is all smiles. If you ask Judith what’s the best part of having her power chair, she’ll tell you it is being able to chase after her great-grandson without the fear of hurting herself in the process. She can now get around her entire property, and even go find her husband way out in the field and see if he needs help. She has no problems or fear going over tough & grassy terrains anymore, and it’s actually a fun adventure. This 70 year old has got a lot of living to do, and plans on making the most of it with Open-Aire by her side.