article_snippet: On-the-mend: Gordon Veldman, 67, received a lung transplant to escape a genetic disease that reduced his lung capacity to 15 percent last year .
article_snippet: The medical director of the heart and lung transplant program at Spectrum Health says it was a lung transplant to escape a genetic disease that reduced his lung capacity to 15 percent last year that he's aware of. '
article_snippet: Godron Veldman ( has a genetic disease called Alpha-1, which would potentially destroy Godron Veldman ( lungs, and caused Godron Veldman ( to develop emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
article_snippet: One year ago Godron Veldman ( lung capacity fell to 15 percent, making everyday talks like walking incredibly difficult. '
highlights_snippet: Veldman suffered a genetic disorder that reduced Veldman lung capacity to 15 percent and would have surely killed Veldman .
  