The end of life is a period fraught with emotion. Losing someone who touched our lives creates a sudden void. I’ve witnessed alliances form following the passing of a family member, usually because there are opposing views of what the recently deceased would want. These rifts don’t always heal. But…
Make Every Breath Count
— Samuel Kirton
Sam Kirton started his column in November 2021 and writes from his home at Lake Anna, Virginia, where he lives with his wife Susan. His diagnosis at age 59 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in January 2017 began a journey of awareness and advocacy. Sam was listed for a lung transplant on March 19, 2021 and received a bilateral lung transplant on July 10, 2021. This was quite the change from his career as a special agent for the Office of Special Investigations and as a corporate security executive. Sam plans to share his journey so you, too, can make every breath count. You can follow Sam’s thoughts on LinkedIn.
Featured Post
Artificial intelligence (AI) touches many aspects of both our professional and personal lives. One of the earliest recognitions of AI dates back more than 75 years to when Alan Turing, an English mathematician and computer scientist, pondered the question, “Can machines think?” Today, the answer seems closer to…
Writing “Make Every Breath Count” for you each week is an opportunity for me to share my journey, which is a form of therapy for me. It’s an outlet to process my experiences with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and receiving a bilateral lung transplant. Recently, my column…
Some of the most important interactions in our professional lives do not occur at work, at the boardroom table, or even in an office. Often, they occur during brief introductions or chance meetings. The challenge for business leaders regardless of industry is how to briefly explain to someone what they…
The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) journey is, if nothing else, full of surprises. Some of those surprises come in the form of comorbidities, which could be a result of age, a suppressed immune system, or simply luck of the draw. The comorbidities we face are as unique as we…
When is a larger number the better choice? It depends. Recently, I’ve noticed some people in the pulmonary fibrosis (PF) community embracing numbers in studies without understanding their context. In terms of dollars, bigger numbers are better if you’re talking about savings, but smaller numbers are better if you’re…
How much of a powerhouse in the world of rare disease medicine do you have to be to effect change? Advocacy is tough, especially when you’re trying to influence organizations that are responsible for federal policy. So where to start? How about starting with a single voice? The biblical story…
Have you ever experienced a period in your life when nothing seemed to go right? While that may seem an odd question for those in the rare disease community, in my case, sadly, it’s not rhetorical. June has altered some of the best-laid plans, and that trend has flowed into…
July is a month of celebration at our house. Though it begins with the Fourth of July, my personal “Independence Day” is on July 10 — the day I received a double-lung transplant in 2021. It’s a celebration tempered with reverence for the beautiful lungs my donor gifted me.
Adversity is something rare disease patients face on a regular basis. It can take many forms, but it often involves facing a challenging situation or doing something against all odds. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2017, I don’t think I had any…
What choices do you have when you have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung transplant isn’t an option? I’ve been told by more than one patient that they were told to go home and spend the time they have left enjoying a rocking chair on the porch. Whether that is actually what they…
The sound of overhead explosions and bright flashes of light caused by fireworks. The sound of squealing tires followed by breaking glass. The smell of smoke and the sound of a smoke detector. The sound of the alarm on your oxygen concentrator in the middle of the night. Each of…
The calendar of any rare disease patient is a marvel, with its complexity and efficiency. I’ve become both a master and a failure in constructing mine. I continue to miss the mark on making time to live life to the fullest. My schedule gained new elements when I was…
Your PF Community
Explore More Columns
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion