Finding Hope and Community After a COPD Diagnosis
Caroline Gainer shares how finding community through the American Lung Association helped her move forward after a COPD diagnosis.
By
Lana Pine
| Published on July 31, 2025
2 min read
Caroline Gainer, a passionate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient advocate, shares her personal journey with COPD and her deep connection to the American Lung Association (ALA). Diagnosed with a chronic illness for which there is no cure, Gainer initially struggled with acceptance. Learning about COPD was emotionally overwhelming, but her determination to understand the disease became a turning point. Through research, she discovered the ALA as a trusted resource. Inspired by its mission and the stories of others living with COPD, she found both comfort and purpose.
Reading about other patients gave Gainer hope and ultimately motivated her to become an advocate herself. She realized that if learning from others helped her cope, she could also support newly diagnosed patients by sharing her own story. That sense of connection and community played a key role in her emotional healing. “I wanted to be the person that someone else could benefit from learning from,” she explains.
Gainer now uses her voice to amplify the ALA’s Living Well with COPD campaign, which offers free, one-on-one support, education and resources to people living with COPD — especially those in rural areas who may lack easy access to care. She compares her current access to multiple hospitals, pulmonologists and respiratory therapists with the lack of resources in her hometown in central West Virginia, where many residents still don’t have internet or even cell service. She praises the ALA’s efforts to actively reach out to underserved communities and bring vital resources to patients who might otherwise be left behind.
For those newly diagnosed, Gainer has a clear message: COPD is not a death sentence. Through pulmonary rehabilitation, staying active and getting involved in advocacy, patients can regain a sense of control. She encourages others to shift their focus from fear to action.
Caroline Gainer’s story is a powerful reminder that community, knowledge and purpose can transform how we live with chronic illness. Her work with the ALA’s campaign not only supports patients in need — it also shows them what’s possible after diagnosis.
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