I believe I am a lung force hero because I personally have been impacted by lung disease. When I was just in 7th grade I lost my grandfather to pulmonary fibrosis which is a disease that causes the lungs to harden.
As a little girl, I was very close to my grandfather. I even remember telling him I wanted to be a meteorologist when I grow up and he said "that's great Danielle, it is the one job you can be wrong and always have a job." Then, while at the beach on vacation he had trouble breathing and was rushed to a local hospital. He then was flown to Philadelphia and within a week he was gone.
My grandfather was not perfect, but for the majority of his life didn't smoke or drink. That is why I decided to get involved with the American Lung Association. So many people think those who die of lung cancer had to have smoked a pack of cigarettes a day, but I know based on my grandfather that isn't true. I wanted to clear the air (literally) and also wanted to gain more knowledge since it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women.
I was involved with the Oklahoma City American Lung Association from 2009-2011 while I lived there and even chaired their Fight for Air Stair Climb in 2011. I have recently become involved with the American Lung Association in Tennessee and even was their honorary chair for their Lung Force Walk. I look forward to getting even move involved here in Nashville!
