Tracy Vitulli of Freehold was running the bases during a softball game years ago when he suddenly couldn’t catch his breath – and then couldn’t get out of bed for several days. A longtime smoker, Tracy learned he had emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), two conditions that cause irreversible lung damage.
“I gained an oxygen tank and a 100-foot hose so I could reach both levels of my home,” recalls Tracy, age 61. “There were many times when I struggled to talk, walk or breathe, and I stopped doing the things I enjoy. It was tough both physically and mentally.”
But something clicked when Tracy started pulmonary rehabilitation at CentraState. Beyond the physical exercise component that helped keep his body strong and slow the lung disease progression, he discovered that the positive energy from team members and fellow patients lifted his spirits and bolstered his resilience.
“I had only been existing, not living,” he says. “A person needs to get up in the morning with a sense of purpose, and the rehab team gave me that.”
Support on Many Levels
On the days Tracy struggled to get from the car to his rehab appointment, the staff offered encouragement and helped him inside. They provided education on topics like breathing techniques, medication management and when to call the doctor, and designed a personalized exercise program he could perform safely using equipment like a treadmill and recumbent bike.
“With consistency over time, our patients can typically move more easily with less shortness of breath,” explains Denise Camaraza, RRT, one of Tracy’s respiratory therapists. “We also motivate them to challenge themselves outside of the program through pedometer contests, a harmonica group and other fun activities.”
“Pulmonary rehabilitation doesn’t repair lung damage, but it makes the body a more efficient machine so that the lungs, heart and other organs work better together,” adds John DeTullio, MD, Tracy’s pulmonologist and medical director of respiratory care at CentraState. “It improves quality of life while offering social and psychological benefits.”
Strength for a Transplant
Conversations with a fellow patient who had received a lung transplant led to a pivotal opportunity for Tracy, giving him inspiration to seek a similar path. With the ongoing support of his wife, Lisa, Tracy completed the steps to join a lung transplant wait list in Philadelphia. CentraState’s pulmonary rehabilitation program, which is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, was in close contact with his transplant team throughout the preparation process and helped him meet pre-transplant exercise requirements.
When the call finally came, Tracy was ready. He received a lifesaving double lung transplant and surprised all of his caregivers with an earlier-than-expected discharge.
“Pulmonary rehab prepared me in so many ways,” says Tracy, who takes a deep, intentional breath several times a day to keep his gratitude top of mind. “Had I not received that strength and positivity, I don’t know where I’d be.”
A Second Chance at Life
At one point, Tracy’s dreams included walking to the mailbox and taking his granddaughter to the beach. Now, his activities extend to golfing and cooking for his family. He tries to pay forward the help he received by sharing information about the transplant experience with others. He also works out and takes Pilates classes at CentraState Fitness & Wellness, and he still stops by to visit his friends in pulmonary rehab.
“I found hope through my CentraState journey – and the greatest gift you can give someone in life is hope,” says Tracy. “My pulmonary rehab friends are like a second family. They’ve been one of the most amazing support groups of my life.”
PULMONARY REHABILITATION AT CENTRASTATE
Learn more about pulmonary rehabilitation at CentraState.
