Jessie Madrigal Fletcher

In 2015 Aishia Burnett was working full time, going to school part time, a mom, happily married. She got pneumonia but her doctor saw something troubling in her x-ray scans.

Fast forward to 2017, Aishia’s lung function was declining and her pulmonologist suspected it was IPF. In March 2018 she was told she’s need a double lung transplant to…[Read more]

It’s day 29th of our awareness campaign and it’s Emma Schmitz’s turn. Emma had never planned on becoming a caregiver for her mom in her 20s, but it felt like the least she could do.

To Emma, her mom has always been undeniably human. Strong and tenacious, but never a superhero. She is still a positive force though, showing universal respect for…[Read more]

Four years ago, Kevin Schaefer accepted a position at BioNews Services, the parent company of Pulmonary Fibrosis News. Having lived with a neuromuscular condition called spinal muscular atrophy his entire life, he had a direct connection to the world of disabilities and rare diseases.

Through working with individuals like PF columnists…[Read more]

Andrew Mooney was diagnosed with IPF nine years ago. His wife, Lyn, has been his constant support. After the initial Google search into IPF, the life expectancy of three to five years from diagnosis left Andrew devastated. Gradually, he has learned more about the condition, and found a support group. The pandemic has been a struggle to navigate,…[Read more]

Shari George shares a love code with her sister, through a pet name: “Ma soeur.” For Shari, those two words evoke so many good memories: of growing up together in a mountain community, of shared conversations over the ups and downs of relationships, parenting and so much more.

Shari said “ma soeur,” during her sister’s pre-transplant days and…[Read more]

Holly Patient had persistent cough that led to a check-up where she was told she had a lung problem. Her IPF diagnosis came more than a year later. She knows all about fear, fatigue, side effects, never-ending appointments, unceasing anxiety and more. To her, stress, means very serious worry about her unknown and possibly tough future.

Holly’s…[Read more]

Both Jofac O’Handlin and his wife suffered a bout of pneumonia in February 2013. When it came to recovery, Susan, his wife, came out of it much sooner than Jofac.

Prior to that, he was a fairly fit 71-year-old runner. But after pneumonia, he began to struggle. In August 2013, he was diagnosed with IPF. The doctor was not really helpful, and i…[Read more]

Joan Ciccarelli is 83 years old and has lived with IPF for 12 years. These days, she experiences some heart issues but feels fortunate that her husband is there with her. Her family is Joan’s biggest support. Their daughter, whom they call Cinderella, comes over and takes care of so much for them.

Joan also requires an oxygen machine. She…[Read more]

Rand O’Brien began feeling short of breath one day when he reached his third-floor office. He was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis four weeks later by his pulmonologist. A second confirmation of the diagnosis came six months later. He was urged to get “on the list” for a lung transplant.

Initially he said yes, yet, having been a…[Read more]

After joining the Greater Kansas City Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group, Kevin Olson made several new friends who would influence his life. Unfortunately, he would lose some of them to this dreadful disease. He wants to honor some who have died. They all had one thing in common: a positive attitude.

John and Dan, who he met on the first meeting…[Read more]

Eileen Koster’s IPF journey started in 2015. Asthma, allergies, and chronic cough made her job difficult as a flight attendant. A year later, doctors confirmed she had IPF. 

In September 2020, she told her pulmonologist she wanted a transplant. With no relatives nearby, her friend Florence agreed to put her life on hold to help Eileen.

On Ma…[Read more]

Ann Reynoso is always thinking about her mom. She helped her stay brave when they found out about her having LIP/PF. Ann was diagnosed in December 2019, a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in the U.S. She felt strong knowing her mom was in this fight with her.

Then, the unthinkable happened. On June 26, 2020, her mom…[Read more]

Diana Schmitz was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2019. Throughout her experience with IPF her  key words are calm and peaceful. Both come from her faith.

After seven months on the transplant waitlist, only one healthy lung was available. The doctor warned Diana that she may not have time to get another chance. She said…[Read more]

Terril McBride has IPF, like her father, and her two brothers. She was diagnosed in 2015. After her diagnosis, she got on Esbriet and started pulmonary rehab. Her symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, and sometimes she needs to be on oxygen.

She noticed how she felt better on the days she went to rehab. That’s when she began s…[Read more]

Malcolm Mann first suspected his lungs were under stress was around the year 2000, when he developed a cough while exercising. In those days he was a 50 y/0 triathlete, and trained around 10–15 hours per week, running, cycling, and swimming. In 2018 he was diagnosed with IPF.

Malcom’s cough is still relentless, and he feels breathless more f…[Read more]

Rhonda Hitchcock’s husband received his IPF diagnosis in November 2017. Immediately, Rhonda immersed herself in research. Through this challenging journery, Rhonda is grateful to the pulmonary rehab team for getting her husband’s body stronger before transplant and providing IPF education sessions for the both of them.

In 2021, and three day…[Read more]

Terri Dominick is the daughter of our beloved columnist Kevin Olson. To Terri, knowing IPF as a daughter feels like a roller coaster. The ups are times when life feels “normal ” and her father goes to soccer games, family activities… even when he was forced to wear oxygen out in public.

The downs are those moments when she is reminded tha…[Read more]

Introducing Linda M.!  She is a good friend of one of our columnist Kevin Olson. Kevin was diagnosed with PF in 2014 and received a double lung transplant in August 2020. Linda knew very little of the disease until she became close friends with Kevin and his wife Dana.

She is proud to be on “Team Olson” and knows that reaching out, asking ques…[Read more]

This is Barbara Schmitz’s story: her husband Greg was classmates with Kevin Olson (one of our mighty columnists!) in the 1970s at the U.S. Military Academy. Since October 2016, Barbara and Greg have been part of Kevin’s support system.

In 2018 along with another classmate, Paul, and his wife, Linda, they formed the “West Point Travel Group” a…[Read more]

Today we pass the mic to Gail Hicks, whose PF journey began in February 2017, when she found herself out of breath and coughing uncontrollably for several months. Doctors initially believed she had double pneumonia, but a few weeks after she was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease (ILD)

She is supported by her awesome husband of 51.5…[Read more]