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…
Columns
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…
Do you ever wonder what your bigger picture looks like and what life lessons you’re meant to learn? I am aware that this is a very philosophical question to open a column with, but I can’t help but wonder about it after being diagnosed with a fatal lung disease. Since…
Last week, I talked about how caring for my mother, Holly, before and after her double-lung transplant helped prepare me for parenthood. As an only child, I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to care for someone in such a comprehensive way. I learned a lot about myself and how…
Learning to cope with a chronic illness is an ongoing process — and never easy. My entire world was flipped upside down when I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in April 2016. I didn’t know anything about interstitial lung diseases and felt bitter that I had to…
I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting these last few weeks. I don’t know why — I haven’t hit any special milestones such as a birthday or diagnosis anniversary. But I’ve been thinking about the adversity I’ve faced since my diagnosis with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) as…
I don’t have children yet, but like most people, I learned nearly everything I know about parenting from my parents. I grew up watching them and learning from them. I have taken note of their good strategies and of the things I might do differently with my kids. My husband…
As a condition of being placed on a lung transplant list, I had to show that I had social support. My wife was my main caregiver, but she would need a break now and then. Fortunately, several friends offered to help with caregiving duties. However, our need for…
