I received this in my email today from Jane Martin (i have bought her books) as perhaps others of you have from Breathing Better Living Well Community. not sure what it means just yet? would have given U a link but cannot find it.
Dearest Breathing Better Living Well Community, I come to you today announcing a major change in the life of Breathing Better Living Well.
It’s been over 10 years that the Breathing Better Living Well Community online Forum has been in place. In that time it has grown from ten members to over 700. There have been over 39,000 posts including excerpts and links to some 7,000 articles. And there have been conversations! We’ve talked about everything…medications, diagnosis, oxygen, lung function testing, coping with shortness of breath, happy times with our families and friends, and how to go on after we’ve lost them. We’ve shared all of that…and everything in between. In short, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve learned - how to live as well and as fully as possible with chronic lung disease.
I’ve been inspired and amazed by the people I’ve met through this online Community and I’ve been told time and time again how much it’s meant to our readers. Confusion, discouragement, anger, and fear can take a toll on anyone, and certainly no less on those with chronic lung disease. So, for many, BBLW has been a respite, a “safe place.” To say it’s an honor and a privilege to lead this venture, well, even the writer in me can’t find words that come close to expressing what’s in my heart.
In early 2011 I resigned from my position as Pulmonary Rehab coordinator at our local hospital. Since then my work at the COPD Foundation, work I never dreamed I’d be blessed enough to do, has consumed a great deal of my time and energy. This, along with many other things that demand my time and attention, have left me with too little to give the Breathing Better Living Well Community all it deserves. I love my job and I love the BBLW Community, but I am only human and I can’t do justice to both.
To my volunteer staff – those of you living with COPD and other chronic lung disease, as well as our Respiratory Therapists, especially Larry. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your commitment, dedication and excellence knows no measure. You have so graciously given of your time and talents - posting links to articles, bringing us our weekly BBLW Monday Edition from Northern Michigan, sharing stories that inform and inspire …and offering up your wisdom. Oh, that wisdom that comes only from living day to day with chronic lung disease, and doing it with such grace and dignity. That is you. Over time we have had to say good-bye to many of our staff, our friends. Devastating, crushing losses they were – and still are – but we went on, and we go on, still. Please know how much you mean to me and how much I believe in you. Every one of you has special talents and abilities and I encourage you to continue to use them to help others. Thank you also, to Dr. Robert Sandhaus, Dr. Frank Adams, Dr. Vijai Sharma, and my dear friend Helen Sorenson. I am honored by the time you took to spend with us in the Breathing Better Living Well Community. I look forward to you continuing to be there when I have questions.
On Sunday, November 2, I will be turning the lights off at the Breathing Better Living Well Community Forum. It will be closed permanently. Please know that the Breathing Better Living Website will stay just as it is. There is a lot of content on the site: Basics, First Steps, Articles, Stories, Bookstore and more. That part of BBLW is not going anywhere!
On Monday, November 3 the COPD Foundation will launch COPD 360social, a brand new online community within the COPD Foundation website. This new community will have the strength of a major not-for-profit COPD organization behind it, with knowledge and compassion in the lead. You, as members of the BBLW Community can find in COPD 360social, a new online home. There you will have the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive. You will thrive as a group, as you work together toward new heights of awareness and progress in the battle against COPD. And you will thrive as the member of this group with new depths of caring, friendship and joy in a community of friends with COPD. I invite you - I encourage you - to join. I will email you a link next week.
Again, please know that the Breathing Better Living Well website http://www.breathingbetterlivingwell.com will not change. But when you click on “Community” on BBLW, it will bring you to COPD 360social, your new online Community home.
So, my dear, dear friends, have a good breathing day. With a grateful heart, a hopeful look to the future, and with love, I wish you happiness and health.
Jane Martin
Founder and Director, Breathing Better Living Well
Re: change in Breathing Better Living Well Community,
Thanks for sharing this information, jarity. I've visited this community many times over the years and really enjoyed it. It's always helpful to share knowledge available at other sites. Jane provided a lot of helpful information and she will be missed.
Re: change in Breathing Better Living Well Community,
So what don't you understand, Jarity? The Forum will close but the website will continue. If you click on the "Community" on the website, instead of going to the old forum, you will be sent to the COPD360social site. Jane has done a fantastic job of keeping the forum going but now she wants more time to work with the COPD Foundation.
Re: change in Breathing Better Living Well Community,