Longtime Western Slope resident Vern Roberts is a tough guy. He beat cancer twice, worked in difficult environments during his career and has dealt with COPD for years. He came to this area in the 1970’s to go hunting and knew it was where he and his wife, Janet, were meant to live and raise their family. “When we moved here, Montrose had one stoplight and no traffic,” Roberts said. Forty-five years later the couple has 10 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren, most of who live on the western slope.
Roberts worked for years cleaning diesel train engines and other locomotive parts and was exposed to many hazardous materials. “There were 5,000 gallon tanks of steaming chemicals, 55 gallon drums of acid, you name it,” he said. “It was impossible to avoid exposure.” Now 80 and on oxygen full time, Roberts has been paying the price, looking, feeling and sounding more and more frail as his lung problems worsened. “If I came to the hospital I parked in the handicap area but still had to stop and rest 3 times before making it to the door,” he continued.
“We were looking for and praying for a miracle,” Janet said. “And then we found Dr. Hersh.” After a complete exam and the requisite tests, Pulmonologist Andrew Hersh felt that Vern was a good candidate for a new procedure to place tiny valves in his airways to close off the more diseased part of the lung and allow the healthier part to expand and improve breathing. Created to help patients with severe emphysema and COPD, it can make a dramatic improvement in their quality of life.
“I can’t believe the difference this procedure and Dr. Hersh have made in my life,” Roberts said. “I went from being on 3 liters of oxygen to ¾ liter, I sleep better and wake up feeling clear headed and my voice and body are stronger. I can now be more active. Dr. Hersh is so good at listening and explaining everything and he provides such personal care. Janet and I think he walks on water and that Montrose Regional Health is the best hospital around.”
Friends and family are amazed at the improvement in Roberts. “I don’t have to rest anymore on the walk from the parking lot,” he said with a grin. “I have a whole new outlook on life and would encourage anyone with similar problems to see if this new procedure could help them. It’s definitely worth doing.”
Photo caption: Vern and Janet Roberts Photo caption: Dr. Andrew Hersh, MD
What are Endobronchial Valves?
This breakthrough technology is for for patients with severe emphysema or COPD with ongoing symptoms despite medical therapy. It is not recommended for patients with asthma, fibrosing or scarring lung diseases such as IPF, or bronchiectasis. The procedure is minimally invasive and requires no surgery. It involves
placing tiny valves in the airways to close off a diseased part of the lungs and reduce hyperinflation. This helps the healthier parts of the lungs expand and lifts pressure off the diaphragm, decreasing shortness of breath and making breathing easier.
Benefits can include improved health and lung function, more energy, increased exercise capacity, better rest and less breathlessness. This can often allow the patient to walk farther distances and sometimes do things without supplemental oxygen.
If patients are interested and think they might be a candidate they should discuss it with their primary care provider who can then refer them to the Pulmonology Department. They need to have quit smoking or be willing to quit and need to have completed Pulmonary Rehabilitation or engage in moderate daily exercise such as walking.
To learn more about this procedure and services the Montrose Lung & Sleep Center offers, visit the Montrose Lung & Sleep Center page.
About Montrose Regional Health (www.MontroseHealth.com)
Montrose Regional Health is a 501(c)3 nonprofit healthcare system serving Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Gunnison, Delta, Hinsdale and San Juan counties. The hospital is licensed for 75-beds and offers an extensive range of inpatient & outpatient health care services, including cardiology, oncology, minimally invasive surgery, laboratory, medical imaging/radiology, Mountain View Therapy, Acute Rehabilitation Unit, advanced respiratory & pulmonary services, and the family birthing center. The health system has a reputation for acquiring the latest technologies in healthcare, from robotic assisted surgical services to UVC-disinfection technology. Montrose Regional Health is the second-largest employer in Montrose County, with more than 700 employees and 100 providers who represent 23 medical specialties. With a tagline that reads Caring for you like family, the health system is known for its warm patient care.
