Charlene is a fiercely independent 30-something year-old who can’t sit still. She loves coffee, wine tasting, playing with her dog, and spending time on the beach with her family. She’s a lover of all things travel, and never passes up an opportunity for a dip in the ocean! A proud Canadian, Charlene was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2016 after 13 months of investigation into sudden shortness of breath, a chronic cough, and unusual fatigue. IPF has forced her to slow down, but she’s slowly learning the value of quality versus quantity in everything she does.As a columnist for Bionews, I try to write about a variety of topics pertaining to patients living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), even those that are taboo or difficult to talk about. Not only is this an expectation of columnists, it also can illuminate issues that patients may…
Many have noted that the recent holiday season was difficult due to the pandemic, as large family gatherings were discouraged. In some places, Christmas was canceled altogether. Two years ago, I wrote about the difficulty of holiday seasons for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) due to exhaustion, and…
This holiday season will be far different from previous ones. Because we are still in the midst of a global health crisis that won’t be resolved by Christmas, families must make difficult decisions about how to celebrate the holiday season this year. As a Canadian, I haven’t paid close attention…
I recently celebrated another birthday, my fourth since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Prior to adding “rare disease patient” to my list of personal identities, I never cared much about birthdays. Now, I embrace them and enjoy celebrating the year that has passed and looking forward to…
I have always been uplifted and inspired by stories of hope, resilience, and people overcoming challenges. I would argue that many others feel the same way, because as humans, we all crave connection with one another, and stories are powerful tools that can unite us. In our current global health…
The words “palliative care” often frighten those of us living with a life-threatening illness. This is because the term historically has been associated with end-of-life care due to its link with hospice care. But the two terms were formally separated in 1990, when the World Health Organization officially recognized palliative…
Learning to use supplemental oxygen as a young adult was arguably the hardest part of my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis. My life changed once I required the help of a plastic tube with two prongs up my nose to complete basic tasks that most people take for…
I have never met a cohort of people more resilient than children. I am reminded of this every day in my career, as I am privileged to walk alongside families facing hardships and discuss with parents and caregivers how to help their children through difficult times. As a trained therapist,…
Many people around the world complain about the cold, dark winter months. This is even true for Canadians who “should” be used to the frigid temperatures our country experiences every year. I know more people dislike the cold than the heat, but cold weather doesn’t pose health risks to…
I began hearing the term “toxic positivity” this year, and the pandemic has illuminated the term’s meaning for me. According to The Psychology Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, toxic positivity refers to “the excessive and ineffective overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state across all situations.” Since the beginning of…
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