Missing Meaningful Moments Due to PF

My 95-year-old father died last week. He’d been battling cancer on and off for the last eight years. He was a wonderful father and grandfather. I’m so blessed to have had him as my dad for so long. I miss him so.

As news of a life-threatening illness diagnosis makes rounds in a community, it is common for people to ask the diagnosed patient, “What do you need?” This question can spark anxiety in patients, especially in the first few weeks following their diagnosis as they adjust to a new reality. After…

A mutation associated with the mucous-producing gene MUC5B, a known genetic risk factor for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), also is prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), according to a study led by researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The study, “MUC5B Promoter…

One of my all-time favorite quotes about kindness is: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be Kind. Always.” I liked this quote, which can be traced to Scottish author Ian Maclaren, before my 2016 diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Kindness should…

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from the bone marrow of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) perform basic cell functions, like growing and dividing, more poorly than do these cells from healthy people of the same age, a study reports. The study, “Senescence of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells from…

As PF progresses, it is wise to address how long to keep working. It is common to wonder: How do I know when to stop? When is work harmful to my health? Can I make it financially? How do I obtain disability or early retirement? These are…

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is now accepting applications for a new program, called PFF Scholars, that aims to support and further develop promising researchers working in the field of pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The PFF Scholars program was designed to provide emerging researchers with financial resources to conduct or…