In praise of caregivers, the angels who walk among us

The caregivers I know represent the best of what is right in the world

by Samuel Kirton | November 4, 2025

“Ready to get that tube out? Sam, are you ready to get that tube out? Are you in any pain? No. Are you ready to breathe on your own?”

Those were among the first words I heard as my wife, Susan, sat at my bedside while my care team brought me back from anesthesia following a bilateral lung transplant. To be clear, I was not taking notes, but Susan did record a video of the process with her phone.

Being at my side was nothing new for her. On Jan. 31, 2017, the day I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), she was sitting next to me in an examination room at Inova Fairfax Hospital’s Advanced Lung Disease and Transplant Clinic. From the days leading up to my diagnosis to today, Susan has been my caregiver. There were no interviews or auditions for her new role, yet she never balked.

Celebrating Our Caregivers

The caregiver role

The role of caregiver doesn’t come with a job description. The pay structure doesn’t acknowledge the skill levels or the patience required to be successful.

From the early days following my diagnosis, there were things I could not do on my own. Susan stepped in.

I received my transplant during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Susan was allowed in the hospital, but only by herself. When I went into surgery at 3 a.m. on July 10, she was alone in the waiting room — no family or friends, just the incredibly loud silence of being alone. The Inova team was great about keeping her up to date on my status. A friend of mine who lives on the island of Guam messaged her throughout the night.

Today, more than four years after my transplant, we have achieved more balance, but there are still tasks she takes on to protect me.

Caregivers are a community

While Susan is at the top of my list as the all-time greatest caregiver, there are so many similar stories.

A colleague here at Pulmonary Fibrosis News, Christie Patient, was the caregiver for her mother, Holly, during her IPF journey and transplant. Her column, “Courage to Care,” brings you along for the ride. I recall reading her second column because her lede was powerful and stuck with me. She wrote: “I named my column ‘Courage to Care’ because I wanted to convey that it takes a lot of guts to be a caregiver. The moment I decided to take responsibility for protecting my mother, I became a courage-making machine. I have mustered courage all day, every day, to face the scary and unpredictable reality of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and lung transplant.”

Also, two guest columnists here at Pulmonary Fibrosis News are caregivers who are sharing their experiences through writing.

Debbie Klein was the caregiver for her late husband, Steve, who had IPF and cancer. He was diagnosed with IPF in 2009, and four years later, his care team began testing to determine his eligibility for transplant. A colonoscopy led to a diagnosis of stage 4 cancer. He passed away in 2015.

In her column, Klein wrote, “It’s been 16 years since that devastating diagnosis. Before Steve’s death in 2015, I promised him I would continue to learn as much as I could about PF and use our experience to help others. I currently lead an online support group for PF patients and another one for caregivers. Doing so has been a poignant and cathartic piece (peace!) of my healing journey.”

Kylene Henderson is a caregiver for her husband, Donnie, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2022, caused by undiagnosed autoimmune disorders. His diagnosis took a year. Henderson shared: “That long, hard day was just the beginning of my husband’s PF diagnosis journey, but it was also a huge turning point that helped us put the pieces of the puzzle together. For the first time in months, I felt a glimmer of hope.”

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and the caregivers I know represent the best of what is right in the world. I introduced you to four caregivers, and there are many more out there. Susan got me through bad days, shared the good days, and was among the first voices I heard following my transplant. I could not have done it without her. My journey required us to be a team.

For my readers who are caregivers, take care of yourself. Remember that grace is the best gift you can give yourself, and that you’ve helped your patients make every breath count.

Note: Pulmonary Fibrosis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Fibrosis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary fibrosis.

Print This Page

About the Author

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.