Patti Everly Describes The Last days Of Her Husband, Country Hall Of Famer Phil Everly

(AP) - The widow of Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers says when he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, he went from mild to severe and skipped medium.

Patti Everly tells the Nashville Tennessean her husband would clutch his chest and complain he couldn't breathe. She says he'd do less and less with every step and he'd wonder if he'd make it. She says, "Pretty soon, all you're waiting for is death."

However, Patti Everly says Phil stayed positive and invited songwriting collaborators to his house. He died in January.

Patti Everly says her goal is to draw attention to C-O-P-D and raise money to find a cure.