During my journey with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, I’ve noticed periods of silence that affect not only patients, but also caregivers. I experienced my first significant such period about eight months after my diagnosis in January 2017. I took disability leave from my job as I was no longer able…
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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I’ve been writing recently about the four pillars of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s (PFF) new five-year strategic plan introduced last year, called “The PFF Is ME.” In December, I explained the first pillar, Accelerate Research. The second pillar, Expand Access to Expert Care, is a concern for…
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 how it’s interpreted can vary. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)…
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 writing, with dozens more still missing or unaccounted for. Emergency situations are dangerous, but even more…
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 to be found. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January…
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 in Virginia. I’d been moved into surgery at 3 a.m., about seven hours earlier. Today, I…
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 it up in a single word, I’d pick “miserable.” After my diagnosis of idiopathic…
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 better therapies to be available immediately. But what I came to learn during my journey is…
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 most of my life, I welcomed those muggy days of summer. But with my diagnosis…
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 background, or the size of your bank account is not a factor known to contribute to…
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 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2017, it was a complete surprise — and initially, best described…
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 this disease, and this disease isn’t fair. The first few days after my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis…
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 of rotation since my transplant. Following my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in January…
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