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Lets fast forward shall we..................
When I graduated from high school I went to college for a while, but I ended up not finishing.  I then got my first "big job" at the famous DQ  in 1984.  I met Barb at DQ and we have been friends ever since.   I lived with my mom and dad when I had my beautiful daughter, Danielle.   In 1991 I started working for a company, Top Cat Concrete.   I thought this was my big break since I had no experience being a secretary.  The owner was willing to train me.   I worked there for 6 1/2 years.   I also worked part time at my daughters day care center and then worked for an attorney, which I did not like.   My dad passed in 1998 and my mom became ill in 1999, so Danielle and I moved in with her.   My mom passed in 2001.   The same year I started to notice a slight decline in my activity when Mike and I went on a camping trip.  I was so short of breath; I thought I was just out of shape.  My doctor diagnosed me with Asthma.   I did smoke for 12 years and I quit in 2002.   In 2003 I was in a car wreck right before I got married in 03.   My doctor had x-rays ordered, which shown I had a mild case of emphysema.   This did not really sink in at first.   Then I got to thinking: "I am only 38 and I have emphysema."???   I started working again as a secretary part time in 2004.  In January 2005 I was diagnosed with Alpha-1.   At that point I was scared, confused and I really did not know how damaging Alpha-1 could be.   In October 2006 I quit working and applied for disability.   This was so hard emotionally.
4:44:00 PM by Crystal Locke
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