Columns

Being Vulnerable With a Chronic Illness Can Be Beneficial

One of my most vivid memories of my late friend Serena Lawrence is when we sat down to discuss my becoming a columnist for Bionews Services. I’d just been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a lung disease characterized by fibrosis in the lungs that prevents oxygenation. Serena wrote…

This Holiday Season Brought Bittersweet Memories

I enjoy the holiday season, especially Christmas celebrations. As my siblings and other family members were born in Poland — I am the only one born in the U.S. — we follow a traditional Polish Christmas, holding most of the festivities on Christmas Eve, or Wigilia. Special foods are…

Living in Deep Fear of the Dreaded IPF Cough

In December, I wrote a column about slowly emerging from a month of being sick with pneumonia and the flu. I shared the importance of doing our best as patients living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to stay away from those who are sick, and why common illnesses…

Managing a Chronic Illness Is a Full-time Job

I’ve held three full-time jobs in my career, each averaging about 40 hours per week. I’ve never tracked the number of hours I spend managing my chronic illness, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they equate to a full-time workweek. Since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) three years ago,…

My Path to Closure Requires Retrospection

As I move through the seasons of this year, I can’t help but feel the imprint of the events and emotions of last year. I keep comparing moments from now to this time one year ago. There are many unofficial anniversaries that my internal clocks have kept. As we…