Columns

How I Respond to Common Reactions About My Disease

Because I was diagnosed with a chronic illness at 28 years old, I have received many different reactions to the news. Most people are well-intentioned, some don’t know what to say, and others share common reactions that one might expect when something unfortunate happens. I experienced a lot…

Making Funeral Arrangements a Little Easier

After I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, I began evaluating the best way to spend the precious time and energy I have left. Against a backdrop of grief, I made a list of the things I wanted to complete before I passed. Some goals involved increasing…

A Gratitude Miniseries: March 2018

Editor’s note: A continuation of Charlene Marshall’s monthly “Gratitude Miniseries.” The goal of my “Gratitude Miniseries” is to write about the things I am grateful for that took place in the past month. I believe this will be an excellent narrative to look back on at the…

Choosing to Let Things Go Since My IPF Diagnosis

When you are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the choices about how you live your life suddenly becomes illuminated. Since IPF literally steals a patient’s ability to breathe, the prognosis of this disease is not very good, plus there is no cure.

A Week in the Life of an IPF Patient

As someone living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I have enjoyed connecting with others on a similar illness trajectory as me, as well as those living with different kinds of illnesses, including different forms of pulmonary fibrosis. We all have things in common, as well as things we…

Beginning Testing for a Lung Transplant

About six weeks ago, I shared that I am under consideration by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) for a lung transplant. A few weeks ago, I got the good news that UCSF said YES to allow me to start initial testing to…

To My Manager: What I Wish You Knew

Working with a life-threatening illness such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is difficult to manage, regardless of whether that work is full- or part-time. Exhaustion, illness, and hospitalizations often get in the way of being able to complete tasks efficiently, and may also prevent me from meeting organizational deadlines.