This Juneteenth, We Honor the Freedom to Breathe and the Voices of a People

At LASARRUS, our mission is born from a deep understanding of struggle, perseverance, and the ultimate pursuit of freedom. This Juneteenth, as we reflect on the day that marked the end of slavery in America, we are drawn to a parallel that resonates with our core identity: the fundamental right to breathe freely. For millions suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses like COPD, this basic freedom is a daily battle. For us, the founders, the fight for freedom has defined our entire lives.

This is why we chose this moment to share a special video, set to the song "Voices of the People," written and performed by our own co-founder, Nelson Emokpae, also known to the world as the musician Nelly's Echo. This song, and this day, are deeply personal to us.

From Oppression to Opportunity: Our Story

Here’s our CEO & Co-Founder, Dr. Lloyd Emokpae, to share that story in his own words:

We, the founders of LASARRUS—Roland (a medical doctor), Nelson (a physical therapist), Lloyd (an electrical engineer), and Edward (an attorney)—are brothers in mission and in shared experience. In 1996, as young children, we fled political oppression in our native Nigeria, finding refuge and a chance at a new life here in the United States.

This country represented a beacon of hope, but it was not a journey without its own trials. We quickly learned that opportunity was something you had to fight for, to work for ten times harder than others, and to never take for granted. We faced hardship, but we were never broken by it. Instead, we found it forged in us an unshakeable perseverance. Our journey affirmed a timeless truth, one articulated perfectly by the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:3-5:

"…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame…"

This passage is not just scripture to us; it is our lived experience.

Juneteenth Through Our Eyes

As immigrants who have been blessed by the opportunities of this nation, we see the legacy of slavery and the celebration of Juneteenth through a unique lens. We see the unimaginable suffering that Black Americans endured, but we also see the towering strength, character, and hope that was born from that suffering. The perseverance of people of color did not just build resilience; it built a stronger, more dynamic America. Hardship, we realized, only makes a people stronger.

This is the spirit of Juneteenth we celebrate: a testament to the power of a people whose voices could not be silenced and whose hope could not be extinguished.

The Voices of the People Will Never Die

When we decided to create a video honoring this day, there was no other choice for the music. Nelson’s song, "Voices of the People," resonates with every fiber of our story. It’s a song about the collective sound of a people rising, of their hopes and dreams taking flight. It is the anthem of the resilient.

Our work at LASARRUS is to give that same hope to those battling for every breath. Through our wearable technology, currently undergoing clinical studies for FDA consideration, we aim to empower patients and honor their fight.

This Juneteenth, we celebrate freedom in all its forms. The freedom from bondage, the freedom from oppression, and the profound, essential freedom to simply breathe. We invite you to listen to the voices of the people and join us in the hope for a healthier future for all.