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.Although the past two years have been traumatic and isolating, I believe some good things have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be hard to reframe our thoughts to focus on the positive, but if you’re like me, these years have allowed for many moments of deep self-reflection.
The days surrounding April 7 each year are emotional for me. On that day in 2016, I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) at the young age of 28. Like many others, I’d never heard of IPF and knew nothing about this life-threatening and debilitating lung disease. Moreover, as…
I spent a lot of time crying last week, but for a positive reason. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a cruel and life-threatening lung disease I was diagnosed with in 2016, has often been the reason for my tears. It is challenging to live with a condition that causes debilitating…
Many chronic illness patients experience brain fog. Those living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and life-threatening lung condition, are no exception. Due to being chronically under-oxygenated, especially as the disease progresses, many IPF patients find their brain fog prohibitive to important aspects of their life, such as excelling…
One of my biggest fears is being a nuisance to others. As much as possible, I try not to rely on anyone and have learned to become stubbornly independent. This is why living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a debilitating and life-threatening lung disease, has been so hard on me:…
No one will ever convince me that COVID-19 is just a cold. Unfortunately, I’ve heard this sentiment echoed by healthy friends since the start of the pandemic as a means of downplaying public health measures meant to curb the spread of the virus. But having had COVID-19 twice now, I’ll…
Given the various unfortunate events happening around the world, including the evolving war between Russia and Ukraine, I’ve been reflecting on the many ways my family and I are blessed. At times, I’ve been guilty of not realizing my privilege. I’ve always had the basic necessities, including a roof…
Last month, I suffered a significant injury to my left knee. I had just parked outside a medical building for an appointment. The sun was setting on a relatively mild Canadian winter day, and I slipped on a patch of black ice, dislocating my patella and falling hard onto the…
In times of hardship, I’ve found nothing to be more valuable than human connection. After I was diagnosed in 2016 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a life-threatening and debilitating lung disease, it felt as though no one could relate. That changed when I started talking with other IPF patients. Sharing…
One of the unique challenges of living with an invisible illness is figuring out how to tell others. Although I’ve lived with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) for five years, it’s still not easy for me to disclose my condition. Most people wouldn’t know that this life-threatening and relentless disease has…
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