Have you ever glanced at the passenger-side mirror and noticed the message written on it? Objects are closer than they appear. The mirror makes objects appear farther away than they actually are. That warning summarizes my week. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in January 2017,…
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My husband, Donnie, and I and our children just returned from a family vacation. We had a wonderful time, but I wish I’d done more research beforehand to make things a little easier. While I always feel like we do a fair amount of planning, once we’re away, there are…
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with various medications. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. What do you do while you wait for your current condition to improve? Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve noticed…
In case you hadn’t noticed, I didn’t file a column last week. I missed you and feel like I need to explain. My body told me I needed to take a break. I had back-to-back medical appointments that left me wiped out, so I decided to listen to my body.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is emerging as a “hot spot” for drug development research, according to the nonprofit CheckOrphan, which notes that “investor and industry interest is accelerating.” A May 2026 article on the organization’s website notes recent activity by Avalyn Pharma, which has secured $100 million in…
Up until my husband, Donnie, became ill with pulmonary fibrosis, our family had been relatively healthy and free of any major issues. Each of us made it to our annual checkups, plus an additional appointment or two during cold and flu season. We probably had a handful of prescriptions…
Rehabilitation from serious health setbacks is hard. This week has repeatedly proven that to me. Since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2017, I’ve learned a lot about the disease. But I haven’t learned everything yet. During my IPF journey, I wasn’t hospitalized after my…
When my husband and I decided to move to a small farm, we imagined early mornings feeding chickens, tending the garden together, and watching cattle graze in the distance. It wasn’t simply a place to live. It was the life we had dreamed of building. No one imagines that one day their own body will…
I’m home, at last, after a 17-day hospital stay where I was treated for shingles. Oddly enough, after it was determined by my care team that I was a viable candidate for a lung transplant following my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2017, I was…
Have you ever wondered what a columnist for Pulmonary Fibrosis News does while being hospitalized for 17 days? First, I focused on getting better. Second, I asked many questions of those caring for me. Finally, as I met other medical specialists, I asked them what they knew about…
