Living With IPF — Charlene Marshall

Living with a chronic illness is not for the faint of heart. In addition to the physical and emotional aspects of having a life-threatening lung disease like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), there are also many mental challenges. As patients, we’re often forced to face our fears, especially during acute…

“I’m so busy” feels like it’s now a common response to the question, “How are you?” It’s like being busy is glorified or worn as a badge of honor among many of us, myself included. Living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a life-threatening and debilitating lung disease, has forced…

It’s hard to forget traumatic events. Even if we’re not directly involved, these moments often become ingrained in our psyche. When we face trauma firsthand, we tend to remember many of the sensory experiences connected to the event. My most traumatic experience was being intubated after an exacerbation…

Last Monday was one of my favorite holidays here in Canada. Victoria Day, which honors Queen Victoria’s birthday, kicks off the summer season, and we have an unwritten rule among the cousins in my family to gather at our family lake house after a long winter. Being able to…

I would not consider myself an anxious person. However, as I straightened my hair and did my makeup last Saturday morning, I realized the person reflected in the mirror was riddled with anxiety. I was attending a funeral for my friend’s mom, Anne, who had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF),…

Although the past two years have been traumatic and isolating, I believe some good things have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be hard to reframe our thoughts to focus on the positive, but if you’re like me, these years have allowed for many moments of deep self-reflection.

The days surrounding April 7 each year are emotional for me. On that day in 2016, I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) at the young age of 28. Like many others, I’d never heard of IPF and knew nothing about this life-threatening and debilitating lung disease. Moreover, as…

I spent a lot of time crying last week, but for a positive reason. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a cruel and life-threatening lung disease I was diagnosed with in 2016, has often been the reason for my tears. It is challenging to live with a condition that causes debilitating…

Many chronic illness patients experience brain fog. Those living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and life-threatening lung condition, are no exception. Due to being chronically under-oxygenated, especially as the disease progresses, many IPF patients find their brain fog prohibitive to important aspects of their life, such as excelling…

One of my biggest fears is being a nuisance to others. As much as possible, I try not to rely on anyone and have learned to become stubbornly independent. This is why living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a debilitating and life-threatening lung disease, has been so hard on me:…

No one will ever convince me that COVID-19 is just a cold. Unfortunately, I’ve heard this sentiment echoed by healthy friends since the start of the pandemic as a means of downplaying public health measures meant to curb the spread of the virus. But having had COVID-19 twice now, I’ll…

Given the various unfortunate events happening around the world, including the evolving war between Russia and Ukraine, I’ve been reflecting on the many ways my family and I are blessed. At times, I’ve been guilty of not realizing my privilege. I’ve always had the basic necessities, including a roof…