EP #271 - 05.04.2021 - Primary Immune Deficiency and COVID-19

Today I welcome Pat and Bob Carroll to talk about Primary Immunodeficiency Disease and COVID-19.

Pat Carroll is a registered respiratory therapist and a registered nurse. She has clinical experience in critical care, emergency/trauma nursing and home health care, and she has taught a variety of health professionals in clinical and classroom settings. Ten years ago, she was diagnosed with primary immune deficiency which completely changed her life (and her husband's). Once she regained her health, she became an active volunteer with the Immune Deficiency Foundation, leading the Get Connected Group in CT. She also became involved with the National Organization for Rare Disease in CT, which has developed a coalition to work on common legislative issues and to make sure that none of our efforts would clash with other groups of people with serious, rare diseases. 

Bob Carroll began his career as a sales representative in technical, industrial sales. He was a sales consultant developing innovative marking techniques in various industries when his company was bought, and all of the sales consultant positions were eliminated. He took this opportunity to take a break and do some substitute teaching to fill his days.  A principal where he was subbing asked him to be a one-to-one paraprofessional for a challenging kindergartener entering the school. He agreed, and worked with this special little boy while going to school at night to get his teaching credential. He then became the first special ed, vocational ed, transitional planner for an alternative high school that served multiple school districts. He taught life skills, job skills and prepared students for a future after high school. He retired from teaching 3 years ago.