Columns

The holidays have arrived, which reminds of those passenger-side mirrors that read, “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” It wasn’t too long ago that the holidays seemed far away, yet here they are. After I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2017, my health…

Good grief! When I hear this two-word phrase, I often associate it with the cartoon character Charlie Brown. Otherwise, the words “good” and “grief” seldom seem to belong together. What do you do with grief amid the holiday season? If you’ve been reading my columns for some time,…

Welcome to December. Wait, what? How is it December? Time seemed to move in slow motion during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now it’s already the end of 2024. In 1974, the Rolling Stones released “Time Waits for No One.” One line sums it up: “Time…

Families will gather this week to celebrate Thanksgiving here in the U.S. But how do you safely navigate a large family gathering when colds, the flu, and COVID-19 are all circulating? When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2017, a lot changed in my world.

Since my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2016, I’ve learned to manage my emotions about my illness. However, there are a few circumstances that make it nearly impossible for me to control how I feel, often causing me to erupt with rage and anger. One of those…

Do you know what a hack is? It’s a way of doing something more simply, efficiently, or effectively. Throughout my journey living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I’ve found a number of hacks that make my life easier. When I was diagnosed with IPF in January 2017, I…

Watching the U.S. elections last week was an exercise in mental health awareness, as is any activity in which the outcome is greeted with mixed reactions and emotions. The refrain from Carly Simon’s 1971 song “Anticipation” came to mind as I was laying out this column: “Anticipation, anticipation/ Is…

How is it already November? Here in the U.S., today is Election Day, so get out and vote if you haven’t already done so. I wanted to take the opportunity this week to update you on topics I’ve discussed in several recent columns. My bronchoscopy Diagnosed with idiopathic…

If you could go back in time, would you want to do it? I’ve given this choice some thought. I would. How would you use the time? When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2017, I hadn’t heard of it. I immediately began a…

What medications do you take regularly, and what are they for? Do you know the possible side effects? When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2017, I didn’t take many medications. I took a blood pressure medication, an over-the-counter (OTC) allergy pill, and…