Good things happen on the way to the forums
Have you discovered the Pulmonary Fibrosis News Forums yet? Think of them as a virtual café where you can stop in and read a couple of items from the discussion areas, comment on…
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
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…
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And with the advent of spring comes a Halloween party
One of the lessons idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has taught me is that not everything will go as planned. For that reason, this past weekend we celebrated Halloween and One-Half (which we call…
The importance of support groups in navigating life with PF
Living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is not for the faint of heart. That applies equally to patients, caregivers, and loved ones. While each of us is on a unique journey, there are times…
Transplant patients, stay on guard for measles and other outbreaks
It was five years ago this month that COVID-19 was beginning to consume the headlines. Around the world, those headlines provided an early view of what a pandemic might look like here in the…
In post-transplant life, sometimes it’s just one of those days
Do you ever have one of those days? You know the kind: Nothing seems to go your way and the day ends with a huge sigh. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary…
I’ve found benefits and drawbacks to joining the IPF fraternity
Fraternal organizations have long been a part of colleges and universities. It’s not uncommon to find an area around campus labeled as Greek Row. These organizations allow like-minded individuals to join together, taking hold…
This Rare Disease Day, make your voice heard with elected officials
Here in the U.S., there is an effort underway to reduce the size of the government. You may not know that, in addition to writing this column, I’m also a senior moderator for the…
Recent snowfall reminds me of how I’ve had to accept limitations
Winter storm warning. Those three simple words never bothered me much until I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Afterward, those words defeated me. They were an indication of things I could…
Finding calm in high-pressure moments of medical chaos
Have you seen the T-shirt or sign that reads “Keep Calm and Carry On” (KCCO)? You might be surprised to learn the story behind this phrase. Created in 1939, it was part…
When we share our experiences with IPF, it’s not a competition
We’re not all the same. When I share details about my journey with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I don’t want to give the impression that I’m setting a standard. My goal in writing…
Dealing with grief is unique to each of us in the PF community
Grief is a universally understood emotion. How that emotion is individually expressed is unique. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I was 59 years old. I’d experienced loss by…
Why fact-checking is important in the rare disease world
How big is the internet? I could just say that it’s big, but I want to provide some facts to shed additional light on the topic. According to Health IT, the internet is anticipated…
