Columns

Care-cation: an extended stay in a place away from home to care for a loved one in need. In the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, we had a week or so to find a six-week-long rental in San Francisco that could house my mom, Diana, who…

While I don’t have a medical background or degree, I have learned a lot in the past few years about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Much of that learning comes from other patients, either via the Pulmonary Fibrosis News Forums or in conversations at events and virtual support groups. Since…

For me, the scariest part of the pandemic has been imagining one of my loved ones developing a severe case of COVID-19. Relatable statement, I know. But I don’t have to try too hard to imagine what being sick like that would look like. I have lived through a similar…

As a columnist for Bionews, I try to write about a variety of topics pertaining to patients living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), even those that are taboo or difficult to talk about. Not only is this an expectation of columnists, it also can illuminate issues that patients may…

On a beautiful Thursday afternoon late last May, my partner and I took the dogs swimming at our secret spot at a nearby reservoir. A sailboat gliding across the water made me reminisce about sailing in the San Francisco Bay while growing up. The first…

Many have noted that the recent holiday season was difficult due to the pandemic, as large family gatherings were discouraged. In some places, Christmas was canceled altogether. Two years ago, I wrote about the difficulty of holiday seasons for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) due to exhaustion, and…

This holiday season will be far different from previous ones. Because we are still in the midst of a global health crisis that won’t be resolved by Christmas, families must make difficult decisions about how to celebrate the holiday season this year. As a Canadian, I haven’t paid close attention…

I was finally at that mature stage in life when you go to beer festivals with your mother. (Oh, that’s not a thing?) On a windy fall day in October 2016, my mom, Diana, and I dressed up as pirates and got…

We moved out of our house today. Tomorrow, my husband, Jonny, our two pets, and I will board a plane for a new life in a new place. We are leaving Washington state behind for good. While I am sad to leave my friends, closing this chapter feels like a…

I recently celebrated another birthday, my fourth since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Prior to adding “rare disease patient” to my list of personal identities, I never cared much about birthdays. Now, I embrace them and enjoy celebrating the year that has passed and looking forward to…