Whenever my family visits my husband and me here in Hawaii, I can’t help but reflect on my first trip to the islands right before my mom, Holly, was hospitalized for an acute exacerbation of her idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). That 2018 visit was our first real family vacation…
Living with a chronic illness takes commitment, patience, and endurance. A lot of energy is required to manage your disease, medication schedules, procedures, and medical equipment. For me, equipment management means keeping my oxygen tanks in working order, as I’ve relied on them to breathe since I was diagnosed…
On Jan. 18, Larry Runyon passed away at 76. Larry was a warrior fighting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) for more than 15 years. He’s certainly not the first person I’ve known who has passed because of IPF, but he is the first one to pass whom I’ve known for…
There are certain moments in our lives when a single event becomes indelibly etched into our memory. And the significance of such moments is dictated by each of us. Think about that for a minute. What moments are etched into your memory? Have you dealt with the loss of a…
Minutes after I’m wheeled into the operating room, everyone stops — a timeout. Lying on my back with an awesome view of the ceiling, the calm and quiet of the room are very noticeable. I’d been connected to various leads, used to monitor everything from my heart rhythm to my…
Shortly after I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I was on a walk and spotted a leaf in the shape of a heart. For some reason, the beauty of it struck me. It was a sign; nature had left me a message. I collected the leaf and…
New Year’s resolutions are an annual tradition for many of us. We make promises to ourselves to do something better in the year. But this year, I’ve decided to do something different: Instead of resolutions, I plan to make new memories. Why make resolutions I know I can’t keep? After…
Unlike members of the band Green Day, I could happily live through an entire year of Septembers. Januarys though? Wake me up when that ends. I always find myself exhausted and burnt out this time of year. I used to chalk it up to seasonal depression, but it’s…
Living with a chronic illness can be a lonely experience. It feels isolating because it’s difficult for my peers, who are in their mid-30s, to understand what life with an invisible, yet debilitating, illness is like. While I’m glad they don’t have to experience that, it can be hard…
During the early days of my diagnosis, I didn’t want people to be sad. Yes, my diagnosis was not a cause for celebration, but sadness was not going to change it. If I could be positive, especially in my view of the future, I might help others be less…
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