Just Breathe...Compassionate Help for the PF Journey

d87dbd0122f8a05f8c93e6576ea24dfaKim Fredrickson was an Author, Blogger and Marriage and Family Therapist. She lived in Northern CA, with her husband of 40 years and had 2 adult children. Kim was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis in May 2014, as a rare complication from chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer. Kim is the author of Pulmonary Fibrosis Journey: A Counselor and Fellow Patient Walks with You, The Power of Positive Self-Talk, and Give Your Kids a Break: Parenting with Compassion for You and Your Children. Kim believed that learning to advocate for yourself with kindness and compassion, just as you would for a good friend, makes this difficult journey a little easier. In her patient column on Pulmonary Fibrosis News, she offered practical ideas to help us care for ourselves, fight for what we need, and process our many-layered emotions. Kim passed away in 2019, but her inspirational work advocating for the IPF community continues to inspire and endure.

Read more of Kim’s writing at www.kimfredrickson.com

March 12, 2019 Columns by Brad Dell

Beautiful Hopes for Kim Fredrickson’s Transplant Journey

Editor’s note: Brad Dell, the head of columns for BioNews Services, wrote this column. When I walked into Kim Fredrickson’s room in the intensive care unit (ICU), my emotions ripped me this way and that — grief, relief, anxiety, joy — all fluctuating and overwhelming. Once Kim smiled at…

January 29, 2019 Columns by Kim Fredrickson

Facing Reality and Letting Go with PF

Letting go of something or someone is hard for all of us. We often face forks in the road where we realize we need to let go of people, expectations, plans, relationships, pain, and a whole lot more. This is especially true for pulmonary fibrosis (PF) patients and…

January 22, 2019 Columns by Kim Fredrickson

Getting Used to Wearing Oxygen at Night

All pulmonary fibrosis patients require supplemental oxygen as our disease progresses. As scarring in our lungs worsens, we need extra oxygen to stay alive. Starting using oxygen I was shocked when my doctor told me that I needed to use supplemental oxygen, which involves rolling a tank around…

January 15, 2019 Columns by Kim Fredrickson

Dealing with a Recent Exacerbation

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) patients often experience a sudden worsening of their disease — this is referred to as an “acute exacerbation.” An event such as infection often triggers the exacerbation, and sometimes the cause is unknown. About three weeks ago, I started needing more oxygen. I now require 1…

January 8, 2019 Columns by Kim Fredrickson

Setting Goals for the New Year

Happy New Year! I consider it a minor miracle that I made it to 2019. You may feel this way, too. I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) four and a half years ago and given a few months to a year to live. I’m grateful to…

December 18, 2018 Columns by Kim Fredrickson

Adjusting Christmas Plans Due to Exhaustion

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…

December 4, 2018 Columns by Kim Fredrickson

Using Technology to Get Help

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…

Recent Posts