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Even before I received my official diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the thought of death consumed me. I had trouble sleeping. I would lie awake at night for several hours tossing and turning before finally falling asleep. The restlessness was a symptom of the IPF; the thoughts of…

We learn the most important lessons in the most difficult times, and I’m grateful to have had opportunities to live those lessons and share them with others. An internet search of popular life lessons showed me the following: It’s not all about you. Your health is your most…

Before receiving my official diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I was confident in my knowledge of it. Since it was suggested as a potential diagnosis, I spent many hours researching all facets of the disease. I was amazed by how many people were affected by IPF, yet so…

Most Canadians will remember where they were when they heard the news of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6, 2018. The Saskatchewan-based hockey team was traveling to a playoff game when their bus collided with a semitrailer. Of 29 people onboard, 16 died of…

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…