Thank you for the information.  My Mom died recently from COPD.  It helped me to understand that I did all I could do for her.  She went through what was described in your article above.  She lasted five years from the onset of COPD.  She took good care of herself throughout this period but it took her anyway.  She quit smoking 22 years prior.  She was a very pretty 81 year old with tireless energy even though she had COPD.  Great will.  She tried.  I tried.  Last thing she said to me was "Wish I had never seen a cigarette in my life".  Moral--DON'T SMOKE.  God Bless.  Cookie in Virginia