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It’s no secret that life-threatening illnesses are overwhelming. Suddenly, patients must try to understand a flood of unfamiliar information, accept psychological and physical changes, and manage numerous appointments. Due to all of that, it is essential that patients find effective coping strategies. This is not something I’ve perfected,…

Christmas is a week away, and I’ve been tired from shopping, decorating, and making plans. I’m feeling discouraged because my fatigue has prevented me from accomplishing what I want to. I’ve had to do a lot of adjusting due to my pulmonary fibrosis (PF) troubles. I love decorating, but…

When I set out to establish a career some years ago, I couldn’t have foreseen that many of the skills that set me apart as a desirable employee would eventually be lost to a fatal illness. Unfortunately, this is now my reality as I continue my battle with…

Most of society thinks of grief in the context of a loved one’s death. However, people with chronic illness grieve other things as well, such as personal losses inflicted by disease. Since my 2016 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis, I have become increasingly aware of the things I’ve…

Pulmonary fibrosis patients need all the compassion we can get. It turns out that the most important person to give us compassion is … ourselves! A growing body of work demonstrates the powerful effects of self-compassion on our health. Studies have shown that people…

With the holiday season upon us, the social gatherings have begun. An unofficial start to the holidays for me is attending my family Christmas dinner, which occurs on the last Saturday of November. Our extended family is too large to bring everyone together in December, so we…

Over a month ago, one of our readers, Mardy Sitzer, shared a wonderful idea with me. She graciously permitted me to share it with you. Like many of us, Mardy has had IPF for quite a while and is on oxygen 24/7. Her IPF is advanced enough…

With November coming to a close, I look forward to sharing with you the things I am grateful for as part of my continuing miniseries on gratitude. As I turn over my calendar to December, I can’t help but smile as I reflect on all the great things…

When I was growing up, friends, family members, and teachers would tease me about my “fear of missing out” on opportunities. This was because I rarely turned down the chance to try something new. As I got a little older, I often committed to more than I could…

Before my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis in early 2016, I was oblivious to the importance of caring for my respiratory health. While it is easy to conclude that the respiratory system is required for human survival, I think many people take healthy lungs and the ability to…