As a pastor, Adam is an active member of his close-knit community. A lifelong native of Beaver County, Adam’s journey with UPMC dates back to his childhood.
As a toddler, Adam was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This genetic condition causes the skeletal and heart muscle to weaken over time, affecting heart and lung function.
“My parents monitored me closely because my older brother Ernie has DMD, so I was diagnosed early and started receiving care very young,” says Adam.
Following his diagnosis, Adam’s condition was managed by multiple UPMC providers across specialties, including pulmonology and cardiology.
In his late teen years, Adam began waking up with headaches regularly. He decided to seek specialized care.
Around age 20, Adam began seeing UPMC pulmonologist Patrick Strollo, MD. Under Dr. Strollo’s care, Adam participated in a sleep study, which revealed he was experiencing low blood oxygen levels while asleep.
Many patients with muscular dystrophy have low oxygen levels during sleep due to shallow breathing and muscle weakness.
The sleep study ultimately led to Adam’s diagnosis of sleep apnea. Dr. Strollo recommended Adam begin using a BiPAP machine. This machine pushes pressurized air into the lungs to help you take bigger breaths while you sleep, keeping your oxygen levels in the normal range.
“I was in college when I started using the BiPAP machine. It was definitely an adjustment, but it improved my sleep drastically. I’m 36 now and I’ll use it for the rest of my life,” says Adam.
Adam also uses a cough assist device to maintain good lung function. This device helps Adam to produce a strong cough and clear his airways. The cough assist also prevents pneumonia and keeps the lungs properly inflated.
“The cough assist is a great tool. It’s especially helpful when I’m sick,” says Adam who recently had COVID-19. “Dr. Strollo was also always available and ready to help in anyway when I had COVID.”
In addition to pulmonary care, Adam sees UPMC cardiologist Gavin Hickey, MD, and undergoes a cardiac MRI annually to monitor his heart function.
“The great thing about UPMC is the collaboration and communication between my doctors. With DMD, it’s riskier to have surgery. I had cataracts surgery recently, and Dr. Strollo and Dr. Hickey’s teams coordinated to make sure my pulmonary and cardiac function were monitored,” says Adam.
With his condition well-managed, Adam is able to devote most of his time to his church and family. Adam especially loves attending Christian concerts with his wife and spending time with his parents and brother Ernie.
“It’s so important to seek out care. I’m incredibly grateful to have found Dr. Strollo and his team,” says Adam.
Adam follows up with Dr. Strollo every six months to monitor his lung function.
