I’m Trading ‘Coping’ for ‘Hoping’ Thanks to the COVID-19 Vaccine
Last month we moved into our new home in Hawaii. My husband, Jonny, flew back to the mainland immediately for several months of Army training, so I was left to get settled on my…
Courage to Care — Christie Patient
In 2019 Christie Patient relocated to San Francisco to care for her mother, Holly, before and after her double-lung transplant. Holly’s idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis came only months before an acute exacerbation that led to a four-month stay in the intensive care unit, and her eventual transplant. Years later Christie is still writing about the experience, in hopes that her family’s story will connect readers to all the beautiful and terrible parts of the transplant journey. Holly has returned to her home in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and Christie currently resides in Hawaii with her husband, Jonny, and their two four-legged friends.
Featured Post
Reflections on my mom’s 5-year transplant anniversary
Five years ago today, the phone rang early in the morning. “We have lungs,” the voice on the other end announced. The first words I heard that day were months in the making.
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How to Prepare for a Loved One’s Care as They Await Transplant
My journey to becoming a caregiver for my mom, Holly, was a quick one. I learned about her prognosis and treatment options while she was en route to the ICU to await a…
New Year, Same Old COVID-19 Fears
For me, the scariest part of the pandemic has been imagining one of my loved ones developing a severe case of COVID-19. Relatable statement, I know. But I don’t have to try too hard…
Moving On: A Room-by-Room Remembrance Ritual
We moved out of our house today. Tomorrow, my husband, Jonny, our two pets, and I will board a plane for a new life in a new place. We are leaving Washington state behind…
In the ICU With OCD: Caregiving With a Mental Illness
Five years ago, every change in my health status or that of a loved one had the potential to become a catastrophe in my mind. Learning that a loved one was unwell…
Make the Most of a Socially Distant Holiday Season
Even in normal times, holidays can be a huge vector for illness. Viruses that thrive during the colder months, such as influenza, can cause serious problems for those with compromised immune systems…
Start Journaling, Write Away!
Earlier this month, I wrote a column about mental health and therapy options available during the pandemic. Hopefully, I made a strong case for giving therapy a try if you…
Mental Healthcare Is Important When Chronically Ill or Caregiving
Oct. 10 was World Mental Health Day. I am a bit late to the party, but with a twice-monthly publishing schedule, this is my first opportunity to share a column inspired by Mental Health…
Keep the Whole System Running by Maintaining the Parts
The medical facility at the military base where my husband is stationed is enormous. Almost every specialty you can imagine is under one roof. The first time I…
Prednisone and Self-image: Transplant Side Effects We Don’t Talk About
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where my mom, Holly, received her double-lung transplant, has gone to great lengths to provide information at every turn on the transplant journey. The infamous…
Embracing Caregiving: Learning to Accept a Diagnosis
Receiving a pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis is a life-changing event. Accepting this new reality may initially seem impossible. There are so many new things to consider that never were on the radar…
Lung Transplant Memories: Greatest Hits
I’ve been going through a second (Third? Fourth?) wave of grief for all things pre-pandemic. I am still mourning things that once brought me joy but are currently off-limits — rugby, concerts,…
