If you’re a regular reader of my column, you’ve likely heard me say before that transplant patients commit to a lifetime of medical surveillance. I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) on the last day of January in 2017. Until then, I didn’t see my primary care…
Make Every Breath Count – a Column by Samuel Kirton
When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in the early days of 2017, it seemed like my world moved in slow motion. Just a few months earlier, as my diagnostic journey began in the fall of 2016, my doctors sensed something was wrong, but no one could…
I had the opportunity to get away for a couple of days recently and went to the shore. As I looked out at the vastness of the ocean in the late afternoon sunlight, it occurred to me that this is what pulmonary fibrosis (PF) researchers face every day —…
What is your earliest memory of the holidays? Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or another occasion, do you have memories of these holidays from your youth? How do they differ from more recent years? My earliest memories of Christmas are associated with gifts, such as acoustic and electric guitars,…
I was sound asleep at 3 a.m. on Nov. 25 when I heard my mother call my name. It didn’t sound like she was in distress; it was more like she needed help reaching something on a shelf in the next room. After I awoke, I had some trouble processing…
I conduct research for each of my columns primarily because I want a broader perspective on a topic. Recently, I discussed what should be packed in a “go bag” for a transplant patient receiving the call that donor lungs are available. When I typed “transplant go bag” into a Google…
Does it seem like time accelerated during November? I’m not sure if it’s because the hours of sunlight are decreasing or because all manner of holiday decorations have suddenly appeared. I recently contributed to the latter by joining staff and volunteers at the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) headquarters…
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) Summit 2025 began for me with a nonstop flight from Washington, D.C., to Chicago during the longest government shutdown in the history of the U.S. I was resolved to be in Chicago for the summit, so I had backup plans that included taking the…
Each year, at the 11th minute of the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, a calendar alarm sounds on my phone. It recalls the signing of the armistice that marked the end of World War I in 1918. Originally known as Armistice Day, the…
“Ready to get that tube out? Sam, are you ready to get that tube out? Are you in any pain? No. Are you ready to breathe on your own?” Those were among the first words I heard as my wife, Susan, sat at my bedside while my care team brought…
