Processing a Scary PF Experience at the Grocery Store
Last week I wrote about how difficult it is to face reality as my pulmonary fibrosis progresses. This process has involved letting go…
Just Breathe…Compassionate Help for the PF Journey
— Kim Fredrickson
Kim Fredrickson was an author, blogger, and marriage and family therapist. She lived in Northern California with her husband of 40 years and had two adult children. Kim was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in May 2014 as a rare complication from chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer. Kim is the author of Pulmonary Fibrosis Journey: A Counselor and Fellow Patient Walks with You, The Power of Positive Self-Talk, and Give Your Kids a Break: Parenting with Compassion for You and Your Children. Kim believed that learning to advocate for yourself with kindness and compassion, just as you would for a good friend, makes this difficult journey a little easier. In her patient column on Pulmonary Fibrosis News, she offered practical ideas to help us care for ourselves, fight for what we need, and process our many-layered emotions. Kim passed away in 2019, but her inspirational work advocating for the IPF community continues to inspire and endure.
Read more of Kim’s writing at www.kimfredrickson.com
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Beautiful Hopes for Kim Fredrickson’s Transplant Journey
Editor’s note: Brad Dell, the head of columns for Bionews Services, wrote this column. When I walked into Kim Fredrickson’s room in the intensive care unit (ICU), my emotions ripped me this way…
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Facing Reality and Letting Go with PF
Letting go of something or someone is hard for all of us. We often face forks in the road where we realize we need to let go of people, expectations, plans, relationships,…
Getting Used to Wearing Oxygen at Night
All pulmonary fibrosis patients require supplemental oxygen as our disease progresses. As scarring in our lungs worsens, we need extra oxygen to stay alive. Starting using oxygen I was shocked when my…
Dealing with a Recent Exacerbation
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) patients often experience a sudden worsening of their disease — this is referred to as an “acute exacerbation.” An event such as infection often triggers the exacerbation, and sometimes the…
Setting Goals for the New Year
Happy New Year! I consider it a minor miracle that I made it to 2019. You may feel this way, too. I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) four and a…
Adjusting Christmas Plans Due to Exhaustion
Christmas is a week away, and I’ve been tired from shopping, decorating, and making plans. I’m feeling discouraged because my fatigue has prevented me from accomplishing what I want to. I’ve had to…
Self-compassion Helps Us Deal with Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis patients need all the compassion we can get. It turns out that the most important person to give us compassion is … ourselves! A growing body of work demonstrates the…
Using Technology to Get Help
Over a month ago, one of our readers, Mardy Sitzer, shared a wonderful idea with me. She graciously permitted me to share it with you. Like many of us, Mardy has had…
I Hope My Book Will Help You on Your PF Journey
I’m excited to share that my book, “Pulmonary Fibrosis Journey: A Counselor and Fellow Patient Walks with You,” was released a few days ago. It was a labor of love and…
The Benefits of Doing Pulmonary Rehab Online
One of my goals as a pulmonary fibrosis patient is to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Regularly exercising has helped me immensely. I actually feel better…
I’ve Tackled Another of My Heartfelt Goals — You Can, Too
I don’t know about you, but I’m continually aware of my limited time on this earth. Using my time wisely is very important to me. I’ve been working on several goals that…
