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 Twitter or LinkedIn.
This column is my 100th for Pulmonary Fibrosis News. Thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you every week. I’ve been humbled by so many of you who feel comfortable sharing your stories with me…
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What an interesting month August has been. Regular readers of my column may recall that the month started with a discussion of a new comorbidity in my post-transplant world. In subsequent columns, I wrote about how…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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