Columns

After I had a double-lung transplant six years ago due to cystic fibrosis (CF), it was hard to look at myself in the mirror. I would stare at my stapled chest, and feelings of disbelief and grief would bubble to the surface like never before. Thoughts raced through…

At least twice a week, as I’m lying in bed, I can hear the voice of Paulie Walnuts from “The Sopranos” whispering one of his famous quotes in my ear: “A man needs his seven hours. Keeps his mind sharp.” Aside from the hilarity of that scene, Paulie…

Last weekend, my wife and I went to Manhattan to see comedian Alex Edelman perform his one-man show “Just for Us” on Broadway. The show revolves around how he initially sneaks into a white nationalist meeting as a joke (he’s Jewish), but comes out of it…

“Is your child OK?” These perfectly well-meaning words from a stranger cut deep for me. Claire had just finished having a coughing fit in public on a recent road trip when a woman approached us. She introduced herself as a pediatric nurse and explained that she was worried about the…

Today’s society comes with the expectation that we should all meet certain life benchmarks by particular ages. We’re inundated with the “shoulds.” You should go to college and be successful right out the gate. You should get married by 25 years old and have kids at 26. You should have…

During the last month, the smoke from Canadian wildfires has made its way into a significant area of the United States, drastically affecting the ability of residents to breathe, particularly those with health conditions. As someone with cystic fibrosis (CF), I find it to be yet another…

Inpatient hospital stays are common for those of us with cystic fibrosis (CF). Before my double-lung transplant almost six years ago, I’d live at the hospital for several weeks at a time. During those stays, I developed a skill set for thriving while inpatient. Following are some tactics…

As a former stand-up comedian, I’ve heard jokes about every topic under the sun, from Tinder to kitchen appliances, to every dark and demented aspect of human life. I’ve also made jokes about my battle with cystic fibrosis (CF), and I make no apologies for it. It was…

I am not an athlete by any means. But I recently signed up to participate in a hiking fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Normally, I participate in a yearly walking fundraiser, but I had to choose another event this year because of my work schedule. Among the options…

Last weekend, I finally got around to getting my yardwork done. I mulched around the walkway and the side of my condo and planted flowers in the garden. When a friend heard what I’d done, he asked, “Is that a chore, or is it fun?” “It’s fun!” I replied. It’s…