Columns

To follow my column last week about the rate of divorce after surviving advanced cystic fibrosis (CF) and double-lung transplant, this week I’ll focus on the intricate balance of living while dying. Don’t get me wrong, the improvement in my lung health since my transplant four years ago…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with various vitamin supplements. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. My hair has been falling out. It’s most obvious in the shower, when I’m rinsing away shampoo and conditioner…

In a private Facebook group for adults living with cystic fibrosis (CF), a post jumped out at me asking if anyone had gone through a divorce after their double-lung transplant. The post instantly caught my attention because that’s my current situation. What disturbed me was the number of responses…

I’m so tired of some people’s responses to my suffering. I understand that some people might not get what I’m going through if they don’t have personal experience living with chronic illness. But I’d think they wouldn’t voice an opinion on something they know nothing about. Unfortunately, that’s not the…

As a child I was a kicker, the type no nurse wants to be near when wielding needles and throat swabs. Eventually I’d relax my shrieking when Mom or Dad held my hand and called me brave. The nurses were then more warmly received. To be safe, they came bearing…

In the first few days after my double-lung transplant in 2020, I was looking at a hand-held mirror and saw a central venous catheter protruding from the left side of my neck. A large, bulky bandage covered the right side. Little did I know then that the bandage represented something…

I have a love-hate relationship with doctors. Being born with cystic fibrosis (CF) has afforded me the opportunity to have experiences with several doctors throughout my life. Having a double-lung transplant seven years ago further opened a plethora of doctors’ doors. Both health circumstances have given me profound…

I can still envision it: The top half of the wall was painted a shade of beige, while the bottom half was covered in blue wallpaper with white stripes. That’s how I remember the room where, at some point during my childhood medical appointments, I’d step into a clear box…

The power of water is underrated. If you Google it, you’ll see you can delve into multiple aspects of water’s properties, including how it supports thermal energy, hydropower, transportation, and anti-erosion efforts. It’s a universal solvent (because of its molecular structure), it’s often symbolic (as in the Bible), and…

Several pieces of my life puzzle happen to be rare. First thing’s first: I have cystic fibrosis (CF), a rare disease that affects about 40,000 people in the United States. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers a disease rare if it affects fewer than 200,000 people.)…