Photo courtesy of Eileen Koster Day 20 of 30 This is Eileen Koster’s story: My IPF journey started in 2015. Asthma, allergies, and chronic cough made my job difficult as a flight attendant, so I made an appointment to see a pulmonologist. A year later, he recommended treatment…
30 Days of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Photo courtesy of Aishia Burnett Day 30 of 30 This is Aishia Burnett’s story: January 2015: Picture it: I was working full time, going to school part time, a mom to two high schoolers, happily married to my best friend. I got pneumonia and my doctor sent me for…
Photo courtesy of Ann Reynoso Day 19 of 30 This is Ann Reynoso’s story: Never a day goes by that I don’t think of my mom. She was very important to me. She helped me to be brave when we found out about my having LIP/PF. She would…
Photo courtesy of Diana Schmitz Day 18 of 30 This is Diana Schmitz’s story: In January 2019, I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Throughout my experience with IPF, people have used certain words to describe me: grace, bravery, strength, and inspiration. But for me, the key words…
Photo courtesy of Terril McBride Day 17 of 30 This is Terril McBride’s story: My name is Terril McBride, and I have IPF, like my father before me, and my two brothers. I was diagnosed in 2015. However, I had many lung complications after having open heart surgery in…
Photo courtesy of Malcolm Mann Day 16 of 30 This is Malcolm Mann’s story: My first inkling that my lungs were under stress was around the year 2000, when I developed a cough while exercising. In those distant days, I was a 50-year-old, slow-ish triathlete, and I…
Photo courtesy of Curt Strickland Day 15 of 30 This is Curt Strickland’s story: I had a double lung transplant 18 months ago, and I am doing very well. Given my good fortune, I wanted to share what I believed helped in both my recovery and the actual transplant…
Photo courtesy of Rhonda Hitchcock Day 14 of 30 This is Rhonda Hitchcock’s story: My husband, Ric, and I sat side by side when he received his IPF diagnosis in November 2017. We had no idea what challenges to expect, so I immediately immersed myself in research. The…
Photo courtesy of Jerry Barnum Day 13 of 30 This is Jerry Barnum’s story: My name is Jerry Barnum. I am 70 years old and live in Minnesota. In 2017, I was diagnosed with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis with autoimmune features. As one who learned I have a terminal…
Photo courtesy of Terri Dominick Day 12 of 30 This is Terri Dominick’s story: The IPF roller coaster has many riders, not just that main person in the front car (aka the one with the diagnosis). I was chosen to ride this roller coaster with my father,…
Photo courtesy of Steve Dragoo Day 11 of 30 This is Steve Dragoo’s story: I was initially diagnosed with interstitial lung disease in Manila in October 2016 and just thought I had walking pneumonia. I had never heard this term before and such cases are quite rare in…
