Columns

Several months after my lung transplant in 2015, my transplant team OK’d me to travel by air. My wife and I were in the doctor’s office and gave each other a grin. We knew then that we could go back to our special place: Maui. After careful consideration, we decided not…

It is inevitable as we grow and develop throughout the years that our priorities will change. Throughout the last decade, which I believe is considered “young adulthood” for me, I have adapted mine seemingly hundreds of times. The greatest adjustment, however, came with my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary…

In my career, I am privileged to offer children and families support in some of their most vulnerable moments. These include times when children are experiencing bullying, trauma, or grief. When a child is being bullied because they are different, their parents and caregivers regularly make the comment,…

After contracting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and having an exacerbation of my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, I was homebound. I wasn’t able to walk more than 15 feet and was having some anxiety. The majority of my anxiety issues pertained to coughing episodes. When I stood up from sitting, my…

One of my favorite courses when preparing for a career in trauma, mental health, and children’s counseling was my training in narrative therapy. This type of therapy is less traditional than other well-known methods such as cognitive, behavioral, or psychodynamic therapies. Despite this, I have seen it…

Warning: Spoilers for the movie “Five Feet Apart” are contained in this story. Since my 2016 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with movies about chronic illnesses. I love how different films highlight diseases, increasing awareness for patients living with the illness in the…

In June 2016, Lifebanc held its Gift of Life Walk and Run alongside the Transplant Games of America in Cleveland, Ohio. I was a few months post-lung transplant and I felt strong enough to give back to the organ donation community. I enjoy planning events and parties, so it only…

Following the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness, it is hard to put into words the gamut of emotions a patient might feel. This is true at the time of diagnosis and throughout the disease progression, as emotions ebb and flow while patients learn to cope. At…

I have been a season ticket holder with the Cleveland Browns football team since it returned to action in the city in 1999 after a hiatus. I am part of a group of 11 men that holds seven seats. We passionately believe in our sports franchise. I felt the urge…

I believe that people enter our lives when we need them most. I have always made friends easily, and I make an effort to grow and sustain these relationships. I value my connections and strive to nurture them. I have friendships with people I met while traveling and…