The changing outlook for an IPF prognosis
When I talk to patients, caregivers, or family members, almost all of them can recall the details of the pertinent diagnosis. After all, it’s a monumental life event. What each of us hears and…
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.
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Jascayd is approved! So when can we start taking the IPF treatment?
For the first time in more than 10 years, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) care teams and patients will have a new treatment option following the Oct. 7 approval of Jascayd (nerandomilast) by the…
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With PF, preparing for a flash flood emergency is critical
Some truly horrific events have occurred in recent weeks. The flash flooding that began in the early hours of July 4 along the Guadalupe River in Texas has claimed 134 lives as of this…
Discovering new ways to find joy in life with IPF
Joy is a simple three-letter word, but it can be elusive at times for those of us in the pulmonary fibrosis community. Patients and caregivers alike may often feel like no joy is…
4 years after my bilateral lung transplant, I honor the gift of life
This column is scheduled to publish at 10 a.m. Eastern time on July 10, 2025. Four years earlier at this hour, I was undergoing a bilateral lung transplant at Inova Fairfax Hospital here…
How I’ve managed sun sensitivity in life with IPF, post-transplant
It’s been hotter than usual here in the mid-Atlantic. Temperatures in the upper 90s, flirting with 100 F, plus high humidity made it feel like 107 to 115 F. If I had to sum…
Would you participate in clinical trials for IPF?
Being diagnosed in January 2017 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and learning that the disease is chronic, progressive, and incurable was a lot for one day. Of course, I wanted a cure or…
Protecting myself during the dog days of summer
Later this week, summer arrives. Shortly after that come the dog days of summer, usually recognized as July 3-Aug. 11. Those days are typically considered the hottest, most sultry of the year. For…
The PF world is an inclusive community, as it should be
The pulmonary fibrosis (PF) community is made up of people from all walks of life. This disease does not discriminate at any level. Your skin color, religious preference, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic…
My IPF experiences have been like several genres of film
If your journey with pulmonary fibrosis were a movie, what best describes the genre? Horror? Comedy? Drama? Reality? Wait, how about a Hallmark movie? When I was diagnosed with…
Paying tribute to a friend and mentor who shared his IPF journey
I couldn’t decide whether to open my column this week with “I hate this disease” or “This disease simply isn’t fair.” It’s been one of those weeks when both statements are true. I hate…
Why I track changes to my post-transplant medications
After my mid-May clinic visit, I made my 130th medication change since my bilateral lung transplant in July 2021. Each week I fill my pill boxes with 17 medications. Another 17 have come out…
Vertebral fractures lead me down a new path on my health journey
Leave no stone unturned. This is a basic tenet of any investigation, something I learned very early in my career as a special agent. It also seems to be a practice employed by my…
