Father's dying wish was to see daughter healthy

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Mineola resident Gina Phelps is preparing for her first half-marathon. Over the last year, she’s run in 5Ks but what makes this marathon special is how she got there.

A year ago, Ms. Phelps lost her dad. He’d suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or COPD, and emphysema. Six weeks later, Adams’ best friend, Hamlet “Frog” Sharp died of lung cancer.

Ms. Phelps, 27, has also been an asthma sufferer since age 11 and was 140 pounds heavier at the time of her father’s death. Adams’ and Sharp’s deaths, along with her own health problems, prompted her to make a change in her life — and others.

She’d been trying to lose weight, but stopped caring for herself when she became her father’s caregiver.

Her father pleaded with her to take control of her health at the end of his life, and she did just that.

To lose the weight, she changed her eating habits and got active. The mother of three replaced sugary treats with high-protein foods, vegetables, and a lot of water. Now, she’s studying to become a personal trainer.

“For a while, that first month of clean eating, drinking water, it was hard because I’ve always eaten sweets,” she said. “I have to be healthy and fit, not only for my kids but for myself to be able to continue on in life.”

Her asthma was severe as a child, and she took many medications, including using an inhaler and steroid treatments. The weight loss has helped significantly.

“I want to let people know that whether they’re big or small, they can control their life and get off the medicines like I have,” Ms. Phelps said. “I went from taking up to 10 medicines. Now I only take two.”

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Asthma and Allergy shows that weight loss in obese people is “associated with a 40 to 100 percent remission of asthma symptoms and use of asthma medication.”

Ms. Phelps also set out to help others with lung diseases. She organized several fundraisers through the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 7523 in Mineola and used the Facebook page, The East Texas Lung Rangers, as a mouthpiece. The name of the group is a tribute to her dad, who liked cowboy movies.

She donated more than $4,000 to the Trinity Mother Frances Foundation for use in the hospital’s pulmonary rehabilitation program. It’s where Adams frequently received treatments for his pulmonary problems. She presented the hospital with a check last month.

“We are thankful for her drive and determination, and we will ensure these funds are used to help people right there in East Texas struggling with pulmonary disease,” said Debbie Germany, coordinator of the pulmonary rehabilitation program at Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics.

This is the first time Ms. Phelps has spearheaded a fundraiser. She hopes to make it an annual event, and expand to the rest of the community. She also wants to conduct summer camps for kids with similar health issues.

“I used to think I was the only kid who had asthma issues because I was the only one to have an inhaler in the nurse’s office,” she said.

Running the Tyler Rose Marathon will be as a tribute to her dad. His birthday would have been three days after the event. She also wants to prove to herself she can do it.

“I’m overwhelmed by it because I didn’t think I’d ever be healthy enough to breathe,” she said. “I actually feel like I have a clean body.”