COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is ranked as the 7th leading cause of death in the Philippines that even Comedy King Dolphy did not survive. Dolphy died last 2012 after four years of battling COPD at the age of 83.
Since then, brothers Eric and Epy Quizon become advocates in raising COPD awareness to save lives of million Filipinos.
This year, Siblings Eric and Epy Quizon leads “#MakeTimeForDad Campaign” by GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), in accordance with “World COPD Day” that is globally observed every month of November.
The campaign is called #MakeTimeForDad because Men are more likely to have this disease. But the awareness is not just for Men, its for everyone who’s experiencing shortness of breath.
They wanted to create an awareness through social media by encouraging family members to upload a 30 second video in their Social Media Accounts telling their “Father” or “Husband” the things they wish to do with them using the hashtag #MakeTimeForDad.
This would serve as reminder for them to act now if they feel their loved ones are at great risk for COPD before its too late.
“The hardest part is to say the things you need to say but can no longer do because you failed to have that moment”, Epy Quizon said during the #MakeTimeForDad event.
Epy Quizon also recalled his last moments with his Dad Dolphy. “It was really terrible watching someone who was sharp and powerful suddenly deteriorate in front of you. Suddenly you see him fragile. He can’t even walk ten steps to get to where he wants to go without stopping and pausing and catching his breath. Hematoma darkened his skin and made some fell off. He was not hearing us at all and he had a hard time speaking as well.”
COPD is a serious disease in which your lungs become inflamed and/or damaged, preventing air from flowing in and out that results difficulty in breathing. Damages are all permanent and it has “progressive” symptoms.
Smoking and second hand dmoke is the most common cause of COPD. You can also get it from Air Pollution or if you have Asthma. Make sure to visit a Doctor if you’re experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing and coughing.
