(Geri) I delivered mail.
I was a letter carrier.
Working at the post office is a fast-paced job.
You have to get in, get your mail up and get to the streets
so you can get the mail out in a timely fashion.
You're on your feet 99% of the day, and, um,
outside in the elements and walking.
And up and down steps and hills or whatever
terrain you may find yourself in.
You didn't have time to stop and do anything but, you know,
you take your break and then you keep it movin'.
It was, it was hard on the body.
And some days I would come home and all I could do was
just collapse into bed because the mail would be so heavy.
But I loved my job and I loved my customers.
They were awesome. Yeah, they still miss me.
I learned I had COPD in 2004.
It got to the point where
I would take a few steps and I couldn't breathe.
I just had to stop - had to stop.
2014, I had to leave my job. I couldn't work.
It's not a one size fits all disease. Everybody is different.
Everybody's end stage and first stage is different.
There are people that have COPD that is in the end stage
and they're bedridden.
I don't sit down and dwell on what's gonna happen.
I just try to seize the moment
and enjoy what I can while I can.