Cherie Yure

Hi! My name is Cherie Yure and I would like to introduce myself as your AlphaNet Coordinator.

I grew up in Southern California, and received a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University, where I met my husband. We have been happily married since 1990 and have two sons, a daughter, and one grandson. We love our pets in this house, having one very spoiled Miniature Schnauzer and five rescue cats. In 2015, my husband’s career took us to Central Illinois, where we currently reside. It has been quite a change and we plan to get back out West someday when he retires.

Growing up, my grandmother and mother both had lung issues while having never smoked. I had always been told I had “asthma.” In my early 40’s I went to the doctor for a normal checkup and asked what I needed to do to protect my lungs. I feel blessed that my physician’s assistant referred me to a pulmonologist who routinely tested his patients for Alpha-1. In February 2014, I was the first member of my family to be diagnosed with Alpha-1. I started augmentation therapy in April 2014 and have been on augmentation therapy on a regular basis ever since. Because of my diagnosis, my mother was then tested and was also diagnosed. She started augmentation therapy shortly after I did.

In looking at our family history, we concluded that my grandmother was most likely an Alpha as well. Although never formally tested, we were told her lung issues were a result of her being raised on a chicken farm as a child. She continued with her love of gardening her whole life and I miss being able to pick and eat all the fresh fruit and vegetables in her yard. She also taught me to crochet when I was 5 and all my friends and family were eventually gifted with a hand-crocheted afghan.

Since my diagnosis, I have discovered Peloton classes that have kept me active and motivated. I have also had the pleasure or working in the Alpha-1 community in the past and truly enjoyed speaking and working with others that had the same diagnosis. I wanted to continue to work within the community and I can now call myself an AlphaNet Coordinator.

I look forward to serving the community that helped me and my family so much. I am happy to be your coordinator and look forward to working with you in the days ahead.