Columns

Carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders can be exhausting. Those of us touched by rare disease — whether as a patient, caregiver, loved one, or friend — understand that anxiety can be triggered by almost any activity. Examples might include anticipating a medical procedure, awaiting test results…

Last Monday was one of my favorite holidays here in Canada. Victoria Day, which honors Queen Victoria’s birthday, kicks off the summer season, and we have an unwritten rule among the cousins in my family to gather at our family lake house after a long winter. Being able to…

Have you ever come across a painted rock? Are you familiar with the concept? People paint rocks and leave them in public areas for others to find. What they paint on the front of the rock is completely up to them. The underside typically offers information about the person…

It’s been one year since I joined Bionews, the publisher of Pulmonary Fibrosis News, as a columnist. At that point, I was trying to find my way in life with lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP) amid the COVID-19 pandemic. I never thought I’d have so much to write about.

I was only 59 when I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. I still had so many things to do, and many life experiences were waiting for me. I hadn’t yet walked my daughter, Heather, down the aisle. I didn’t have grandchildren. There were places my wife, Susan,…

As a millennial, I came of age with the internet. I remember the thrill of choosing the perfect screen name for AOL Instant Messenger before going to camp. (luv4pigs31, if you were wondering.) In eighth grade, I created my first social media account. Back in the early 2000s, Myspace was…

I would not consider myself an anxious person. However, as I straightened my hair and did my makeup last Saturday morning, I realized the person reflected in the mirror was riddled with anxiety. I was attending a funeral for my friend’s mom, Anne, who had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF),…

Coping with a rare disease can be lonely. After I was diagnosed with lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP) in 2019, my world crumbled and shock set in. I started searching for answers on the internet, looking for any research about my illness, and talking with other patients. It’s a…

You see them before and after you see a doctor. They are often the first person you see upon waking from anesthesia. They hold your hand during the difficult part of a procedure. They see you at your weakest state and help return you to health. Sadly, in some cases,…

Are there sounds you associate with your happy place? Perhaps it’s a smell. For me, it’s the sound of a metal whisk in a metal bowl, the rhythm of a chef’s knife prepping ingredients, the aroma of a mirepoix as it begins to sweat. Food is my love language. I’ve…