Tiny Lung Implants Breathed New Life into Collegeville Woman

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Sherrie Nichols, of Collegeville, has had lung problems her whole life, according to a staff report from 6ABC.

“I was born premature,” she said. “And then I had pneumonia almost every winter as a child.”

Despite those issues, she grew up to be very active and to successfully juggle her work, family, and a love of sports. However, she eventually developed emphysema, which progressively got worse.

“I could hardly walk to the kitchen,” said Nichols. “I could hardly cook. I couldn’t clean. I was so exhausted all the time.”

Then she found out about Temple Health’s Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction procedure. During the procedure, tiny valves are implanted in airways using a long, lighted tube to block off diseased sections.

“The procedure from start to finish was just marvelous,” said Nichols.

Virtually straight away she was able to breathe better, and her breathing has improved even more since. A year after the procedure, she is once again golfing, walking two miles a day, and is planning on flying to Seattle to celebrate her 80th birthday.

“I cannot tell you how wonderful my life is now,” she said.

Read more about Sherrie Nichols at 6ABC.

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