LUNG FORCE Heroes | American Lung Association

Glenna M. My life has been upended by cancer three times. The first for breast cancer and the 2nd and 3rd for lung cancer.
Donnita B. My name is Donnita. I’m a veteran, a retired IT professional, a mother, Grams to two wonderful grandchildren, and an outdoor enthusiast who finds peace hiking, camping, and paddling.
Karen U. At the age of 60, while out of town in June 2021, I woke up one morning with pain in my upper back which I attributed to sleeping poorly on a pull-out couch.
Hazel C. On January 12, 2022, I went outside and inhaled the chilly air in Ohio. I had a cough—not a normal cough, but a bronchial cough.
Teresa D. Hello, my name is Teresa I am a 55-year-old Kentucky resident, mother of two, grandmother of three. I am former cigarette smoker and a registered nurse for 32 years.
Leah L. My husband was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, which had spread from his lung to his liver, a third of his hip bone, and eventually his brain.
Linda T. Wow I don’t even know where to start other than I am the perfect advocate for low dose lung screening as it saved my life.
Kristen K. I have stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer with an EGFR mutation. I was diagnosed on July 4, 2019, and ironically, it wasn’t because of any symptoms—I found out due to a serious car accident.
Tracy V. I’m writing today to share why getting a CT lung scan is so important.
Becca P. Over the course of 19 months, extensive small-cell lung cancer slowly took the breath away from my best friend—my dad, Barry. My role as a daughter gradually shifted into that of a caregiver.
Ashley B. My mother, Maureen, has struggled with back problems for years, enduring five back surgeries over time.
Natalie B. My name is Natalie, and in 2020, at the age of 33, I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
Beata D. Not everyone gets a second chance at life. Some of us are more fortunate than others, and I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I’m alive, I’m happy, and I’m here to share my story.
GeNeise F. My story is about lung cancer. My brother, Ricky, was born deaf.
Lowell J. I smoked cigarettes, on and off for 40 years. At my annual physical, my primary doctor, said I should get scanned. He saved my life by doing so.

Next