In 1995 Lori's grandmother Marguerite Litzenberger passed away of Lung Cancer. In 2003 Lori lost her father, Wayne A. Litzenberger to COPD/Emphysema. It was at that time Lori realized she had to learn all that she could about COPD/Emphysema in order to help patients and their families who were struggling with this debilitating disease. Lori set her goals to bring awareness to the public concerning COPD and other Lung Diseases and also the affects smoking has on lung health.
In October 2004, the American Lung Association picked Lori as the Family Team Chairperson for the "Breath of Life" Walk. The walk was in memory of her father, Wayne, and it was "the most beautiful tribute to my dad that anyone could ever ask for." Lori put together a team of 45 walkers called "The Knights of Melody", which was a swing band her dad had been a member of in his younger years. The team raised $3,800.00 for the American Lung Association. Lori continued her volunteer work with the ALA, not only participating in the “Breath of Life” Walk & the “Walk For Life & Breath”; but also becoming a member of the committee for the 2005 - 2009 Walks at Nay Aug Park, Scranton, PA. She has participated in the 2007 & 2008 "Blow the Whistle on Asthma" Walk in Wilkes Barre, Pa. On February 16, 2008 Lori along with her mother Lee, participated as the "Knights of Melody" team in the American Lung Association Event "Climb the Tower" at The Bell Atlantic Tower in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lori states: "My dad passed away after a 13 year battle with COPD/Emphysema. As the lung disease progressed, his lungs could not even provide him with enough air to ‘Climb the Stairs’ into his own home. So now I will ‘Climb the Stairs’ for him." Lori and Lee climbed 50 Stories - 1,088 Steps, In Loving Memory of Husband & Father, Wayne A. Litzenberger. Lori was also a member of the committee and a volunteer for the American Lung Association of Pennsylvania's, “First Annual 2009 Climb The Arena" and also for the “2010 Climb the Arena” which took place at the Casey Plaza, Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Lori has taken the Freedom from Smoking Training Class and assisted in Smoking Cessation classes. She has had the opportunity to speak to the public about her dad's struggle with COPD/Emphysema and her goal to become an advocate for Lung Disease Awareness and Smokefree Living.
Lori has been widely recognized for her caring, determination and passion for serving those with pulmonary disease. On April 25-26, 2006 Lori was involved in the Youth Quest 2006: The Shoe Campaign, Stomping Out Big Tobacco in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with PA BUSTED! In October 2007, Lori attended the SeaPuffers Pulmonary Land/Cruise Conference along with members of The Pulmonary Paper in Las Vegas, Nevada; reaching out to others with her dad's story, and stating her mission to bring COPD Awareness to patients and their families struggling with this debilitating disease. Furthermore, on May 13-14, 2008 Lori joined patients and advocates from more than 40 participating organizations, travelling to our nation's capital, Washington, D.C., to take part in the first ever United for Lung Health Federal Advocacy Day 2008 sponsored by the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago.In 2009 Lori joined the American Lung Association in Washington, D.C. to take part in bringing awareness of COPD to our Congress. Furthering her lung disease education in March 2010, Lori participated in the Alpha-1 Education Day in Alexandria, Virginia.
Lori is now is a COPD/Caregiver moderator for the Breathing Better, Living Well Community, and has been an observer at the pulmonary rehabilitation program as well as serving as a volunteer for the Better Breathers' Club at Holland Hospital in Holland, Michigan. She has recently become involved with the COPD Foundation concerning advocacy actions, and lastly, Love Your Lungs, Breathe For Life has partnered with 2010 The Year of the Lung.
In Observance of COPD Awareness Month in November; Lori began holding COPD Awareness Health Fairs in 2005 throughout her community. She has continued spreading awareness through her COPD Awareness Health Fairs during the month of November each and every year since, with her unique Educational and Informational displays, and exclusively designed COPD Gold Ribbon Awareness Lapel Pins & Smokefree Living Lapel Pins. Her events have been featured on the GOLD website as part of WORLD COPD Day.
On Fathers' Day in June, 2006 Lori launched a new website for pulmonary patients and families: Love Your Lungs, Breathe For Life. Its mission is to improve the lives of people and their families affected by COPD; and prevent them from experiencing the heartbreak that comes with lack of COPD awareness.
In July 2007, Lori was recognized nationally as a "Volunteer of the Week" by the American Lung Association for her efforts to educate and support families caring for a loved one with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and for her encouragement and inspiration she gives to those trying to live a "Smokefree Life." Furthering her work with the American Lung Association, Lori was honored by being selected into "The Faces of Lung Disease - Lung Champions. Lung Champions were highlighted in the 2009 National brochures, posters, video's, and Special Event Promotional Materials. Due to Lori's active advocate role in her community and surrounding areas to support the research & programs of the American Lung Association, in December 2008 Lori was recognized with the "Emily Bissell Volunteer Of The Year Award For the Mid-Atlantic Region". This award is named for the woman who began the American Lung Association's time honoredChristmas Seal Tradition.Lori was also featured in her community newspaper, The Scranton Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA, in a Northeast Women Lifestyle article in January 2009.
As of December 2008, Lori ventured into another avenue of advocacy. She began her own column entitled "Smoke-Free Living" in a community newspaper; The Villager of Moscow, PA. Lori's column not only gives smokers the encouragement and determination to quit, but is also an educational source for learning the health effects of smoking, and so much more about "Big Tobacco". Lori’s latest undertaking in 2009 has been becoming a Condition Blogger for the Everyday Health website.
Lori was born and raised in Palmer Township a suburb of Easton, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Easton Area High School, she attended Central Pennsylvania Business School and Churchman Business School. She is currently employed at Tobyhanna Army Depot, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. Lori lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her son, Brian and her granddaughter, Cora Lynn. She enjoys reading, gardening, music/country concerts, camping, canoeing, beaching & shell collecting, vacationing, motorcycle riding, creative writing, and participating in community service projects.
"My dad and I possessed a very special bond. The memories that we shared will live on within my heart forever." - Lori Palermo
"Humans are born, they live, then they die, this is the order that the gods have decreed. But until the end comes, enjoy your life, spend it in hapiness, not despair. Savour your food, make each of your days a delight, bathe and anoint yourself, wear bright clothes that are sparkling clean, let music and dancing fill your house, love the child who holds you by the hand, and give your wife pleasure in your embrace. That is the best way for a man to live."
Gilgamesh: A New English Version by Stephen Mitchell
"Angels are all around us, all the time, in the very air we breathe." - Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994
