Mark’s golden chance to breathe easy
Our Specialist Community Respiratory Service works alongside primary care providers to help people get life-saving surgery quicker. We met retired gilder Mark Ridley to find out more about lung volume reduction treatment.
Applying gold leaf to what is probably the world's most famous clock, Big Ben, is an experience and privilege retired specialist decorator Mark Ridley, 61, wouldn’t change for the world.
But after struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for the past 20 years, scaling landmarks was the last thing on his mind as every day became a struggle to breathe.
Mark had suffered lung damage from an horrific car accident and years of breathing in chemicals and glue in confined spaces at work. After a move to Kent and a life-threatening case of pneumonia, Mark felt like he didn’t know where to turn.
Mark and pet pug Nutty
Mark, who now spends his time slowly restoring an old Dutch barge moored up in Iron Wharf boatyard, Faversham, under the watchful gaze of his prize pug, Princess ‘Nutty’ Nutella, said: “When you can’t take a breath, it feels like the walls are closing in and I’d surrendered to a dormant existence, waiting for the worst to happen; I was scared to do much at all.”
His GP referred him to our Specialist Community Respiratory Service in east Kent last October, which is when he met Community Specialist Respiratory Nurse Pippa Ballerio and things finally started looking up for Mark.
Pippa immediately recognised that Mark may be eligible for lung volume reduction (LVR) treatment, a lifesaving medical procedure that removes the most damaged parts of the lungs, allowing the healthier tissue to work better.
Pippa said: “Mark presented with severe emphysema (COPD) and constant breathlessness, despite being a non-smoker and having received specialist care in the past.
“During our first appointment, I was able to fast track Mark for a lung function capacity assessment, to check if he was a suitable candidate for the LVR treatment, which is only performed in a handful of UK hospitals.”
This fast-track pathway is made possible by the team working alongside leading lung specialists at Guy's and St Thomas' (GSTT) Advanced Emphysema Unit. It meant due to Pippa’s expertise she could assess and recommend Mark for surgery straight away.
Pippa said: “A referral from a GP to Guy’s can take up to a year. People don’t have a year to wait, they’ll be too sick for surgery by the time they are seen.
“Being a specialist community service, we are able to bridge that gap by sending our investigation results and own referral letters directly to Guy’s.”
Mark and Community Specialist Respiratory Nurse Pippa Ballerio
LVR is the only known treatment to medically change COPD. While Mark waits to hear from Guy’s, he has completed our pulmonary rehabilitation programme.
The award-winning six-week programme for chronic respiratory diseases includes tailored exercises and extensive education to improve a person’s quality of life and help them manage their long-term condition.
Mark was also given portable oxygen equipment to provide supplemental oxygen when he was active. Ambulatory oxygen therapy (AOT) maintains blood oxygen levels of people whose readings drop while walking, exercising, or doing other daily activities.
Mark credits Pippa with being a ‘game changer’ in his battle to get back to enjoying life. He said: “As well as explaining all the medical stuff, Pippa really listened and asked lots of questions about what I wanted.
“We talked about me being able to do the everyday things for myself without pitying looks and offers of help.
Mark is upbeat about the future: “I’ve worked in palaces and on landmarks in our great capital and the Middle East and I loved every minute of it; But now I’m happiest simply walking with Nutty at Seasalter without getting breathless – that’s worth so much to me
Pippa said: “Mark is made of tough stuff but with a pending surgical procedure and constant breathlessness, we needed to support him day-to-day.
“That’s why we work hand-in-hand with our pulmonary rehab colleagues – together we are the building blocks to help people be as fit and ready for surgery, or everyday life, as they can be.”
Mark added: “I’m in control again. I have options and hope, I understand what’s going on and why.”
Read more about our Specialist Community Respiratory Service.
