Caleb’s SmartVest Story
Caleb is a very busy man. A professional in his mid-20s, he works in Internet marketing, has entrepreneurial aspirations, likes to run and exercise, and enjoys wakeboarding and fast motorcycles. He also has cystic fibrosis (CF).
Diagnosed as an infant, Caleb was an early user of one of the first HFCWO vest therapies. “It was pretty cool when I first got it, but it was probably 50–70 pounds,” he said. “That’s very heavy.”
When he got a new vest in 2009, he wanted one that fit his lifestyle and fit into his routine of treatments, which he follows with great discipline.
“I’ve got a busy life. If my lungs aren’t cooperating, I’m not able to do the things I need to do,” Caleb said. “I have several daily treatments, including an inhaled antibiotic and a bronchodilator. But it’s thick, heavy mucus. So one of my therapies — a big one, really — is the physical therapy I get from SmartVest.”
“As soon as I started using it, I fell in love with it.”
The convenience and ease of use of the SmartVest is a big selling point for Caleb. “It only has one tube, so I can actually lay in bed with it,” he said. “With two tubes you really have to be sitting up, and it just doesn’t give you as much mobility. It’s small enough that it fits underneath my bed. I love the timer — it shuts off automatically. As soon as I started using it, I fell in love with it.”
As he gets back into running, carries out his daily activities as a homeowner with tenants, and works on launching his Internet marketing business, Caleb is very aware of the importance of his treatments, including the SmartVest.
More energy to pursue his passions
“The airway clearance component is paramount to cystic fibrosis. If you’re not actually coughing things up, the treatments are useless,” he said. “[SmartVest] really helps. I’ll do a bunch of manual treatments [to stimulate coughing] and I’ll be exhausted. Doing [SmartVest], I don’t have to do any work at that point.”
That means he has more energy to pursue his passions — an important benefit for a busy life.
