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ABOUT US

Dean and I were no different than you. In fact we were your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends.

Like so many, we were hurled into a world we knew nothing about when faced with a life altering and life threatening disease.

It’s said, ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’. Without a doubt we had a need as Dean’s Quality of life rapidly melted away with the insertion of a Tracheostomy, a Port (under the skin IV/Chemo delivery system), & a PEG (stomach feeding tube).

We quickly discovered the importance of regularly nebulizing (moisturizing) both the upper respiratory (nose & mouth) and lower respiratory (tracheostomy) system.

Like most trached patients, Dean hated nebulizing as often as the physician & Respiratory Therapist recommended. It’s a laborious procedure for one weaken by illness or injury.

Dean was to nebulize up to 10 times a day! Which meant nebulizing his tracheostomy up to 5 times a day for approximately 30 minutes each time with a trach mask, followed by nebulizing his nose and mouth up to 5 times a day – for approximately 30 minutes each time with a face mask.

In all Dean would have to spend a total of 5 hours every day tethered to a nebulizer (compressor)! Imagine… in a 24-hour period having to dawn a nose/mouth mask or a tracheostomy mask every 2.5 hours!

He’d wear the nose/mouth mask for only 15 minutes then refuse to nebulize with the tracheostomy mask or vise versa. When I reminded him to nebulize he’d shoo me away with, "later." Unfortunately ‘later’ gave into less nebulizing which resulted in serious ramifications. Dean struggled to cough, gag and choke up thick stringy mucus. Less humidification also meant an increased risk of developing pneumonia! His nose, mouth & tracheostomy become painfully dry and when bits of hard tissue clogged his trach I insisted on taking him to the hospital for 48-hour inpatient nebulizing. All because he was frustrated by laborious 'conventional’ nebulizing.

Returning home from the hospital, I promised him I’d find a way to simultaneously nebulize his upper & lower respiratory system which would cut 10 sessions a day to 5. His nose/mouth & trach would be properly hydrated and we’d have 2.5 hours free each day to be a normal couple!

Gathering up twine, electrical & masking tape, elastic bands, extra medical according tubes, hoses, a spare facemask & tracheostomy mask I began piecing my collection of parts together… I began configuring the 'Wright Mask'. A few hours later I showed him my homemade mask. He stared at it then motioned for me to place the double faced-mask on him.

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After trying it out, his eyes filled with tears. His voice quivered as he whispered, "Promise me you’ll patent this – promise me!" I promised. Dean reached for me and held me close. We cried.

From that day on Dean nebulized 5 times a day with my mask for up to 30 minutes each time. His nasal, mouth & trachea tissues were moist and healthy. He was relieved when mucus and secretions were thin and easily expelled & surprised that even his lungs felt better. Never again did we have to go to the hospital for a nebulizing ‘stay’.

Behind the Wright Mask is Dean… Behind the Wright Mask is every Tracheostomy Patient.