Print
Losing Breath, Losing Hope
At 74 years old, Daniel Stringfellow was used to struggling for every breath. Living with stage 3 COPD, even the simplest tasks—walking to his truck, getting dressed in the morning—left him breathless and discouraged.
The lack of oxygen drained not only his body, but his spirit. “There’s no life,” he said, recalling the exhaustion of just trying to breathe. As his symptoms worsened, so did his motivation and will to live. Depression set in, and Daniel found himself wondering each night if he’d wake up the next morning.
Despite faithfully using a prescribed nebulizer and inhalers like Trilogy, Daniel noticed no real improvement. “I might as well just be putting water in it,” he said. COPD had robbed him of his independence and dignity—and standard treatments weren’t helping.
A Neighbor’s Determination
That’s when his neighbor, Rebecca Cunningham, stepped in. She had been researching alternative approaches to COPD and came across articles by a doctor known online as the Midwestern Doctor, who had written extensively about DMSO—dimethyl sulfoxide.
Intrigued by its reported anti-inflammatory and cell-penetrating properties, Rebecca asked Daniel for details on his nebulizer so she could formulate a solution that included DMSO.
Desperate for relief, Daniel agreed. “At that point, I was ready to try anything,” he said. Within three days of starting the new protocol, he noticed a dramatic shift. “Everyone I know says my color is back. I’m breathing. I can talk without losing my breath. I carried my groceries for the first time in forever.”
The Return of Vitality
Rebecca, who had witnessed Daniel at his lowest, was stunned by the change. “There was a time when I’d time my questions because I knew he needed to sit down and catch his breath before he could even answer,” she said. “Now we’re having full conversations again.”
Daniel has even started cleaning his house and thinking about light exercise—something unthinkable just a few weeks prior. He describes the transformation as nothing short of miraculous. “I’m blessed to have a neighbor that cares,” he said. “If this worked for me, it could work for anyone with COPD.”
Awaiting Medical Confirmation
A follow-up CT scan is scheduled soon, and Daniel is optimistic. “All the other CT scans I’ve had showed no improvement,” he said. “But this time, I believe they’ll see a change. I feel it. There’s got to be a lot of improvement.”
He’s eager to see his pulmonologist again, not just to confirm what he feels, but to prove that something outside of conventional medicine actually worked. “I have nothing to gain by saying this,” he insists. “I just know what it’s like to have COPD. And this is the only thing that’s ever helped me.”
A Testimony Worth Sharing
Rebecca, speaking from behind the camera, choked back emotion. “I’ve lost some treasures lately,” she said. “Daniel is a treasure. I didn’t want to lose him too.” She emphasized that DMSO has been studied, researched, and written about in credible circles, even if it’s not part of mainstream treatment.
As Daniel laughed about maybe climbing Mount Baldy someday, the conversation took a hopeful turn. “I might even start exercising,” he said with a grin. The man who once felt like he had nothing left now sees a path forward.
A Message to Others
For those battling COPD or caring for someone who is, Daniel’s story offers more than just inspiration—it offers a reason to keep asking questions and exploring options. “You’ve got nothing to lose,” he said. “Heck, if you don’t try something, you are gonna die. But this might help you live.”
Whether or not mainstream medicine embraces DMSO anytime soon, Daniel’s renewed vitality speaks volumes. And if nothing else, it shows the life-changing power of persistence, research, and a neighbor who wouldn’t give up.
Ask your doctor if DMSO is right for you.
