Columns

For many years, my relationship to the rare disease community was that I had stepsiblings with ataxia, a neurological condition without a cure or effective therapy. Little did I know I’d one day have my own rare disease. In January 2017, I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary…

I am regularly subjected to stories of trauma. Part of my role as a therapist is holding space for clients to disclose difficult situations and helping them to process distressing events in their lives. Thankfully, in my experience, it seems that a growing number of people are becoming comfortable with…

I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2017 and subsequently received a bilateral lung transplant in July 2021. With IPF, whether you’re pre- or post-transplant, one of the things you learn quickly is that the growth of bacteria in the lungs can be deadly.

My mom, Holly, was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2018. An acute exacerbation booked her a one-way ticket to the intensive care unit for a four-month wait for new lungs. Less than one year after her diagnosis, she emerged from an operating room at the University…

“I’m sorry” is a simple, two-word phrase I’ve used many times. For me, it can take two forms: It can be a statement of regret, or it can be a question. Because of my hearing loss, I use the latter to indicate that I need someone to repeat what was…

It has been two months since I last shared my thoughts in this column, and in that time, life has unfolded in ways I could never have anticipated. The lessons I’ve learned during this period have been profound, leading me to confront the blatant reality that life rarely adheres…

When I was diagnosed in January 2017 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I had gone under anesthesia only twice in my 59 years. Since my diagnosis, and especially following my bilateral lung transplant in 2021, I’ve required different types of anesthesia for more than 30 procedures. Most…

When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in early 2017, my care team went to work ensuring my quality of life was the best it could be given the circumstances. A bilateral lung transplant in 2021 offered me a second chance at life, but getting the transplant required a…

Seven years ago, I sat in a hospital examination room in shock. I had just been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and given two to five years to live. The doctor suggested I get my affairs in order. Then, before I knew it, my care team had begun…

I’m in the business of validating people’s feelings. As a therapist, I’m called upon to listen actively to clients and validate how difficult a particular situation has been for them, even as they work through it. I enjoy this part of my work because everyone is affected in unique ways…