Columns

Last week, I had my first appointment with the lung transplant team at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Last month, I wrote a column about the team’s decision to meet with me. This first appointment went very well, better than expected! Praise God!…

With increasing interest in natural remedies for the management of disease symptoms, discussion about the uses of essential oils flourishes. Advocates for oil companies, such as dōTERRA or Young Living, will tell you that there are “unlimited” benefits and uses for these oils to help you live…

Thinking back to my days of high school many years ago, I never imagined I would become involved with an online publication. I hated writing articles, papers, and essays, and I had little interest in research, chronic illness, or how words could be used to connect people so…

I had a scare when using oxygen last week. It’s not unusual to have my oxygen levels off target from kinks in my cords. And I’ve accidentally set the liters-per-minute dial too low. But last week was different. I was getting ready to go to a massage appointment.

I have never in my life assumed that caregiving for a loved one was easy. I also have never been a primary caregiver, meaning the first person providing care to someone who is chronically ill. I have, however, been a temporary caregiver when family members recovered from surgery…

Two years ago today, an inspirational young woman with whom I had the privilege of working for several years passed away. She died of an incurable cancer that no one should ever have to face. While fighting this ginormous battle, she exhibited the most compassion, selflessness, and…

As PF patients, we need all the help we can get, no matter where we are in the progression of this disease. Newly diagnosed patients often feel shocked, confused, angry, sad, or anxious, and desperately need information to figure out what is happening to them. It is normal…

The financial impact of living with a life-threatening illness like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can be overwhelming for patients. Thankfully, in Canada, we don’t have as much of a financial burden when it comes to medical costs. However, patients living with IPF still have several expenses related to care.

For the general population, it is widely known — via literature, social media, and personal experiences shared from others — that stress is not good for our health. It can have all kinds of implications for our bodies and minds that manifest in different ways. As a physical…

There must be a better way! For those of you using supplemental oxygen, you know it is a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because without it we would die, but a curse because it is so difficult to access, use, and live with daily. Check out…