Freddy's Story: Living with Muscular Dystrophy

Freddy Loinaz-Lopez, a patient at Penn Medicine Fishman Program for Home Assisted Ventilation, shares his story of living with muscular dystrophy disease.

As an aspiring musician, Freddy uses his music as a source of inspiration. His motto is, “Tienes que respirar,” which means in English, “You have to breathe.”

Through the Fishman Program, a national leader in managing noninvasive ventilation for adults living at home with chronic respiratory failure, he is able to follow his dreams and stay active. His biggest struggle is not being able to move, but he is thankful that he has his mom for support.

John Hansen-Flaschen, MD, Founding Director, Paul Lung Center Director, Jay and Randy Fishman Program for Home Ventilation at Penn Medicine, adds how the program supplies patients with mechanical ventilators that help them breathe at night while sleeping and also throughout the day.

Laura Marchiano, RRT, Respiratory Therapist, uses data from a Sentec machine, which monitors breathing levels during hospital visits, to oversee patient care at home.

Ashley Carraher, MSW, LSW, works with families on open communications and different ways to express themselves.

Freddy is grateful to the Fishman Program team, they have had a tremendous impact on his life by providing overall support both medically and personally.

His advice to others living with muscular dystrophy disease is to “stay occupied, mentally strong, and to have the fortitude to keep going.”

Learn more about the Penn Medicine Fishman Program for Home Assisted Ventilation: https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-pati...

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