Charlene Marshall,  —

For the people around me on a regular basis, I admit I have not been the most pleasant person this week. I have been far from myself and instead have been grumpy, irritable, quiet and mad. This is unlike me and I know it. I also hate…

As I write this column I am sitting in the uncomfortable chair in our local emergency room (ER) waiting room. This is a chair that I have sat in far too many times, with a familiar visual of nurses moving swiftly around the unit replacing IVs, coupled…

Long before my diagnosis of IPF, I thought I had a plan in place for my life, one that I had been building since I was a little girl. That plan included a steady career in healthcare or social work, a wedding to be celebrated with family and…

I have been reminded of the power of a team in the fight against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in my past few weeks of recovery since recent setbacks and further decline of lung function. While I consider myself an incredibly unlucky person to have been diagnosed with an…

Please note this disclaimer before reading this column: I am writing in a bit of disarray, frustration and sadness. I have chosen to write a column while feeling this way, because I think it has the potential to create a column you can relate to: one that…

It only takes a moment for someone to Google pulmonary fibrosis (PF)  to discover a list of unpleasant symptoms that accompany this disease. Some of the most common symptoms include shortness of breath with exertion, dry cough and fatigue. As you may imagine, there are many other…

None of us enjoy being in the hospital. However, for a patient with pulmonary fibrosis, it is inevitable that you will have to spend time admitted to the hospital. I find hospital stays very overwhelming. I often feel overly emotional, but do not understand why I shed so…

I have always enjoyed doing things on my own, and valued my independence while growing up. I want to continue to be as independent as possible for as long as possible. As a result, I find asking for help very difficult. This is partially due to not knowing how…

As the weather gets warmer here in Canada and everything begins to bloom for another year, it means summer is just a few weeks away. Summer has always been my favorite season. I love the warmth it brings because I despise being cold. I also love the…

Throughout my childhood, adolescent years and most recently young adulthood, I have been my toughest critic. I openly admit to that, and have had a strong desire to always want to do things to the best of my ability. I will repeat an activity or task until I have…