Columns

I’ll never forget the day I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. After months of shortness of breath, a dry, chronic cough, and unusual fatigue, I finally sought an urgent care physician’s opinion about why my lungs were being so problematic. I’d tried multiple antibiotics, inhalers, and steroids to…

Patients living with a chronic illness must learn quickly to manage their medication. Access to the right treatment can be a matter of life or death, especially when talking about a rescue inhaler in response to a respiratory crisis. I’ve experienced one respiratory crisis since being diagnosed with…

Last week, I wrote about the benefits of having multiple caregivers during my mom’s recovery from a double-lung transplant. My dad, Aunt Shari, and I shared the responsibilities so that Mom had the best care from each of us. Preventing caregiver burnout and having someone else who…

A large number of people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) were unaware this disease even existed before they were diagnosed. I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in December 2014 and received a lung transplant a year later. Doctors speculated that I had been living with IPF…

I want to increase awareness about the impact on those of us with lung disease when people smoke in public places. Since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I’ve twice inhaled secondhand smoke at the entrance of a grocery store. One of those times, I was rushed to…

I feel vulnerable writing about this topic, but if this column opens the door for conversation, my discomfort will be worth it. I recently had a conversation with one of my colleagues about having kids. She is healthy, but I am living with a terminal lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary…

Before my mom had a double-lung transplant, my dad was her only caregiver. Holly, my mom, was reasonably independent until a couple of months before being admitted to the ICU. Ed, my dad, was her companion and helper, encouraging her to walk for exercise and helping her…

I often write about living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and what I’ve lost as a result of my diagnosis. It’s easy to write about because my life has changed drastically over the past three years. But I need to remember that the changes haven’t been all bad.

On Independence Day, I found myself alone, drunk, and crying. Every other person at the small party had adjourned to the parking lot to smoke. I have always had a problem with smoking. The first fight my husband, Jonny, and I ever had was when I found out that he…

Over a month ago, I returned from a three-week vacation to Europe. My wife and I were active every day of the trip. Most of our physical activity consisted of walking, but we also went swimming when we had the opportunity. We established a routine in each country we…