Photo courtesy of Rand O’Brien Day 22 of 30 This is Rand O’Brien’s story: It started when I began feeling short of breath when I reached my third-floor office. I thought it might be my heart since two years prior, I’d had two stents put in. But after my…
Photo courtesy of Kevin Olson Day 21 of 30 This is Kevin Olson’s story: I joined the Greater Kansas City Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group, making several new friends who would influence my life. Unfortunately, we would lose some of them to this dreadful disease. I am honoring some…
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…
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…
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