Patient Who Uses Ventilator Is Committed to Living Life to the Fullest

Patti Panzarino always has a positive attitude. Nothing slows her down. Not even her disability.

The Wareham, Mass., 56 year-old was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 (SMA 2), a rare, degenerative genetic disease in which loss of nerve cells in the spinal cord affects the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement. At night, she must use a ventilator to help move air in and out of her lungs. Yet she maintains a positive outlook: “Each morning I wake up and say, ‘OK, what am I doing today?’” She credits her deep faith for making her the person she is.

Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Patti is active in her church, advocates on behalf of people with disabilities, gives inspirational speeches, and sings in her husband Vinny’s band Olypsys. (“Singing is great therapy for your lungs,” she smiles.) She used to host a radio show focusing on disability issues.

And one of her proudest achievements -- in 2012, she was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts. “My platform was Creative Perseverance, which has been the theme of my whole life. I learned to self-advocate from my older sister who mentored me at a very young age. The more people with disabilities push through obstacles and participate in life, the more people will see us, and our acceptance and encouragement to participate increases. It becomes an upward spiral. I used the title to encourage people with disabilities to pursue their dreams.” Musically, one goal is to sing the National Anthem at a Red Sox game.

“I depend on my night-time ventilator,” she says. “It improves my quality of life the whole next day.” Respiratory Therapist Chris Trainor of Reliable Respiratory, keeps tabs on Patti and visits to check her data card, and ensure her Trilogy ventilator and other equipment are working properly. She says, “Chris is great. He’s interested in what I’m doing, how I feel, and Reliable Respiratory treats me like a person. “

“My philosophy is to do as much as you can do, have a good time, and balance taking care of yourself with your quality of life. My life goals are to use the gifts God gave me as long as possible, to embrace every opportunity that I can, to educate and advocate for individuals with disabilities. Encouragement and enthusiasm are contagious.”

To hear Panzarino’s music go to www.facebook.com/olypsys. To learn more about the Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation visit http://www.mswheelchairmass.org/. For more information about respiratory products and therapies, visit www.reliablerespiratory.com or call (866) 551-3335.

- By Stanley Hurwitz /stanhurwitz@gmail.com

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