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,…
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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…
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.
Face mask: check. COVID-19 vaccine card: check. Extra mask: check. Electronic vaccination card: check. Anxiety: check. More than 25 months after the start of the pandemic, my wife, Susan, and I returned to the theater. The National Theatre, located in the heart of Washington, D.C., has always been…
“Wow, that is a rare lung disease. I have heard of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia [LIP], but I have never known or treated anyone with this disease. Your case will be interesting.” That’s what my cardiologist said when I went for my first consultation regarding my hospital stay for symptoms of…
When I was growing up, I loved the show “MythBusters.” I tuned in regularly to watch Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman bust famous myths and answer burning questions like, “Will using a cellphone near a gas pump cause an explosion?” 2003 seemed like a simpler time, didn’t it?…
