Most of my friends and family members would say I am an open book about my chronic illness. After the initial shock wore off from being diagnosed with a life-threatening lung disease at 28, I decided to share my story through writing. Serena Lawrence, the late senior managing columns…
This past week, I felt things. Like, I really, finally felt things. They were real feelings, not forced, and came without judgment. It’s been longer than I want to admit since I have experienced any emotion without it being tainted by anxious judgment. I have written many columns…
Self-isolation has become a form of survival for those with pulmonary fibrosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am a single-lung transplant recipient and have a compromised immune system. COVID-19 can devastate a perfectly healthy person, and someone with my current state of health is at even greater risk. The self-isolation…
I can’t recall how many weeks we’ve been enduring physical distancing unless I actually sit down to think about it. The days seem to blur together, and the time at home seems similar today to what it was yesterday, and to the days before that. However, if this is…
Now more than ever, healthcare workers and hospital employees are being applauded for their work. Even in the best of times, working in healthcare is not easy. These days, our healthcare systems are stressed because of COVID-19, and medical care looks vastly different than what we are used…
As I sit down to write this column, my heart feels heavy. As a Canadian, I can’t help but shed tears for the senseless act of violence that occurred over the weekend a few provinces to the east of me in Nova Scotia. A seemingly respectable man in a…
After writing last week about the loss of my friend, I realized that it was her birthday. That very day, she would have turned 30. I don’t believe in coincidences. I think things happen at certain times for a reason. Donate Life Month inspired me…
It’s fair to say that none of us really know how to navigate our days during this COVID-19 pandemic. I have never lived through anything quite like this, and would guess that many of you haven’t either. The days are long with a lack of routine and structure, and…
April is Donate Life Month. I have struggled to think of something new to say about organ donation. Everything I’ve written for Pulmonary Fibrosis News has been inspired by, or is in response to, organ donation. I’ve talked about both pre- and post-transplant challenges, caregiver struggles, grief, celebration, and…
When I was growing up, my mom used to say, “Charlene, there is something to be said about routine!” Usually she was referring to my sleeping habits: I would stay up far too late and then be tired the next day. She always told me that if I got into…
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