" Are there other supps or protocols you would recommend for someone who's had COPD all his life?"
Yes; Magnesium;
"Magnesium is one of the most important factors for regulation of inflammatory response as well as muscle function, and COPD is a multicomponent disease characterized by abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs with systemic muscle dysfunction" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17364676
Best forms of Magnesium IMO are Magnesium malate, citrate or Magnesium oil.