Latest news with #pulmonaryfibrosis
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
A dog trainer had no symptoms. An X-ray found a terminal disease
When Christopher Kennedy went to have an X-ray before a routine surgery, he thought he would be in and out. Then a technician spotted scarring in his lungs. Kennedy, 68 at the time, had never noticed any warning signs. He was a retired Air Force technician who exercised regularly and spent his time landscaping his backyard and training Bernese Mountain dogs to be hospital therapy animals. After several tests, a pulmonologist gave him an alarming diagnosis: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF. It's a type of lung disease with no known cause where scar tissue grows in the lungs and prevents oxygen from reaching the bloodstream, according to Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association and pulmonologist at Johns Hopkins, who was not involved in Kennedy's care. The condition is progressive with a "high mortality rate," Galiatsatos said. At first, Kennedy thought he could "beat" the disease. But as his lung function degraded, he realized that was "baloney." Medications meant to slow the progressive fibrosis weren't working, and he was starting to need oxygen in his daily life. Even walking to the kitchen was leaving him winded. In 2024, Cleveland Clinic pulmonologist Dr. Aman Pande confirmed Kennedy's worst fear: He had less than a year to live. "We all wonder, as human beings, how we're going to go," Kennedy said. "And you never know. It's a great mystery. Well, for the first time in my life, I was told 'This is how you're going to go.'" "You come out one of two ways" Pande did have one option for Kennedy: They could see if he was eligible for a double-lung transplant. Kennedy, at 74, was older than most patients who undergo the operation, but he was otherwise a promising candidate, Pande said. Lung transplants are usually the final option offered to IPF patients, Pande said, and are usually curative, though a small percentage of patients can see the condition recur. Kennedy was initially resistant to the idea, because his younger brother had died after the same procedure. But after more convincing from Pande, he agreed to undergo testing to see if he would be eligible. Cleveland Clinic doctors "scoured everything," Kennedy said. Finally, he was approved as a candidate. He was registered on the national transplant list, and waited for a pair of suitable lungs to become available. As the months passed, Kennedy's lung function continued to degrade. He went from using two liters of oxygen a day to 10. He had a mild case of COVID-19. He lost more than 40 pounds. In October 2025, he was admitted to the hospital. "Dr. (Jason) Turkowski, (a transplant pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic) said 'OK, we're going to admit you and you come out one of two ways: With a set of lungs, or we're going to carry you out,'" Kennedy recalled. "You're reminded every breath matters" Kennedy spent a month in the hospital. There were two false alarms, where it seemed that a pair of lungs might be available but ultimately were not. The third time was the charm, and on Nov. 15, Kennedy underwent a double-lung transplant. "It was a relief. I was apprehensive, obviously, and anxious. I can remember going into the operating room," Kennedy said. "I can remember the flurry of activity, all the people that were in there getting me ready for the surgery. Next thing you know, you're in your room." Just hours after the surgery, Kennedy's lung capacity was already better than it had been in months. He had several setbacks, including a post-surgery infection and a stroke, but his "indomitable spirit" has helped him recover, said pulmonologist Rachel Powers, who has been part of Kennedy's post-transplant care team. "I'm very proud of him. He really has kept a very good perspective of his course of recovery," Powers said. "He's kept such a good outlook, and I think that's been really important for some of the things that he's had to overcome after transplant." For Kennedy, now 75, life is now beginning to feel normal again. Tests show that his lung capacity is at 98%. He is back to spending time with his wife, children and grandkids. He is able to exercise at home and was recently able to take his dog for a walk without losing his breath. He's almost done training the canine, a Bernese Mountain dog named Fini, to be a hospital therapy dog. Kennedy had believed Fini would be the last therapy dog he trained, and named him after the retirement flights conducted by Air Force members. But in a few weeks, he'll be getting a new puppy. He plans to name her Encore to celebrate his own second chance. Training hospital therapy dogs has become even more meaningful after his own medical journey, he said. "There's a lot of things that are different in my life. It gives you great perspective and proportion of life, of what's important and what isn't," Kennedy said. "You take every breath for granted, because, you know, why would you not? But as soon as they become compromised, you're reminded every breath matters. It keeps you centered." Johnson says Jeffrey Epstein files controversy is not a hoax Idaho murders documents released after Bryan Kohberger is sentenced to life in prison While many believe 10,000 steps a day is optimal, new study suggests different Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hundreds of people raise $84,000 for Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation during annual walk in Pittsburgh
Hundreds of people gathered in Pittsburgh's Riverfront Park on Saturday for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation's annual walk. Participants walked on a one or two-mile course in support of those living with pulmonary fibrosis, a group of progressive lung diseases that cause scarring in the lungs, which limits oxygen intake necessary for major organs to function. Pulmonary fibrosis currently affects more than 250,000 Americans, and 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, according to PFF. Organizers say individuals and teams from the Pittsburgh region raised more than $84,000 to advance research for a cure for the life-threatening disease. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I discovered I was expecting after doctors gave me a terminal diagnosis - mother shares 'miracle' pregnancy journey on new Mail podcast
Podcast All episodes Play on Apple Spotify A young mother has shared the extraordinary story of her 'miracle' pregnancy while facing a terminal diagnosis, in the latest episode of the Mail's The Apple & The Tree podcast. Fiona Hinton, 42, spoke to her father, Steven Speakman, 71, about the challenges of balancing motherhood with advanced pulmonary fibrosis. The podcast, hosted by the Reverend Richard Coles, brings together parents and their adult children to answer questions about their shared family history. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease where scar tissue builds up in the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breathe and ultimately proving fatal as the lungs lose their ability to transfer oxygen to the blood. 'I was 35 and I had a cold that just rambled on and on', Fiona said. 'Doctors told me I had asthma, but it didn't feel like asthma. Nothing would relieve this cough – I tried inhalers and various other things. 'I was a client director, so I would go to London a lot to present at conferences. It got to this point where I would get breathless going up on stage. 'I would never say I was the pinnacle of athletic health – but this seemed very odd, the breathlessness kept getting worse and worse.' Fiona revealed her symptoms reached a crisis point during a business meeting when she couldn't catch her breath after climbing just one flight of stairs. 'The CEO turned to me and said: "Fiona, you look really uncomfortable", she recounted. 'I could barely breathe in this meeting - he told me to go home and go to A&E. 'My dad took me to the hospital, and we had to petition for the nurses to take me seriously. I remember saying: 'I can't go home, I can't breathe, I can't wait and see – I think I'm dying.' After being transferred to a specialist treatment centre, doctors told Fiona she had pulmonary fibrosis, an 'extremely rare' diagnosis for her age. Steven, a former teacher from Manchester, told the podcast that he has struggled to accept the devastating news. He said: 'It's this slow and ratcheting thing to conclude that your daughter's life is going to be limited. 'I still hold out hope for a cure because it's been difficult for me. I think of myself as physically robust and you're my junior; I struggled to accept it. 'I have come to terms with it now: we're all limited in life – there is a beginning and an end and there's a brevity to your life that's hard upon us to accept.' While coming to terms with her terminal diagnosis, Fiona 'miraculously' fell pregnant despite having previously struggled to conceive. 'Something that lifted the mood for us all was the arrival of Harry', she said. 'I have a two-year-old and he came about quite miraculously after the diagnosis. My husband and I had IVF for several years and had no success. We decided to give up. 'By some miracle, we fell naturally pregnant – my son arrived in 2022, and he's been the light of lives, raising everybody's spirits.' Fiona broke down when candidly discussing the challenges of new motherhood while facing her own mortality. She said: 'I have to plan ahead all of the time now - that is tedious sometimes. I am a strong person, but it's difficult being put in that vulnerable position all the time. 'Disease doesn't discriminate – it gets you wherever you are and whoever you are. 'It's not guaranteed I will grow old with my husband or see my son grow up – and that's hard. Sometimes, it's too awful to contemplate. 'All I see is Harry's little face and that's a dagger to heart. Nobody loves you like your mum loves you. 'I just have to think one day at a time because the alternative is total and utter despair. 'I want to play a role in Harry's life – to let him know who I was, because I won't necessarily be there to do that forever.' To listen to full episode, search for The Apple & The Tree, wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released every Thursday.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Siblings battling lung disease raise awareness
A brother and sister with a rare lung disease which leaves them struggling for breath are raising awareness of the condition. Joanne Lovejoy-Waud and Mark Waud were diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) at the ages of 52 and 59, respectively. Their father Bernard Waud died from the condition when he was 50 years old. Mrs Lovejoy-Waud, from Goole, said more than 30 years after her father's death there was still no cure for the disease. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust said the "rare" disease has an average life expectancy of between three-to five years after diagnosis and in the majority of cases, the cause was unknown. Mark Waud was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in April 2024 and said he had 12 months to live. His constant companion is a black bag containing a canister filled with life-saving oxygen. During the interview, the 60-year-old from Wakefield paused often to cough and sip water to lubricate his throat. Physical movement, like climbing the stairs, can trigger a "coughing fit to a stage where I'd literally induce a panic attack because you literally can't breath. It feels like somebody's sat on your chest," he said. On receiving his diagnosis, he said: "It wasn't too much of a shock, because my sister had been diagnosed two years earlier." His sister Joanne Lovejoy-Waud sought medical advice after coughing up blood. On receiving the diagnosis she said "as we (Nicola Lovejoy-Ward) were driving home, we felt numb". Like her brother, Joanne Loveday-Waud is dependant on oxygen. "I can't remember breathing normally without it. It's a way of life," she said. A tube attached to her nostrils fills her lungs with liquid oxygen. "I can feel the cold oxygen passing through my nose. It (the tubes) makes my nose and behind my ears sore. It's uncomfortable at first, but you get used to it." The 55-year-old was active, but the progressive disease dictates how she will live the remainder of her life. "I can't walk more than 10m (32ft) without oxygen." "The worst thing about this disease is the anxiety when people are looking at you and staring while you've got your oxygen on," she added. Nicola Lovejoy-Waud and her wife are organising an annual event called Picnic in the Park in West Park, Goole on 1 June to help raise awareness of IPF. "We know that not many people have heard of pulmonary fibrosis, not a lot of people know what the Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust do. So, we raise awareness to promote and gain funding." Peter Bryce chair of Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust said more than 6,000 people die from PF each year in the UK. The symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue and a persistent dry cough. "I do not know why there is so little awareness of this dreadful condition. "The number of people living with PF is considerably less than some lung conditions, but as the prognosis is so poor, it should have wider concern," he added. There are thought to be 200 different causes of PF, including genetic. The siblings have a form of PF known as idiopathy - which means cause unknown. Joanne Lovejoy-Waud is being assessed for a lung transplant and was aware of the long transplant waiting list. Meanwhile, Mr Waud, who has liquid morphine for pain control, said because of the risks involved with a transplant he was "undecided". For Joanne's wife Nicola, the emotional trauma of having two relatives with a life limiting condition is hard to bear. She said: "It's like a black cloud hanging over us because you don't know when that time is going to come. "Ultimately, I'll have two funerals to attend. One being my wife and one being my brother-in-law," she added. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Lung transplant recipient thanks 'true hero' donor Funding plea for rare lung disease Coronavirus could leave thousands with lung damage Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust British Lung Foundation
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Pulmonary fibrosis: Lung disease siblings battling to breathe
A brother and sister with a rare lung disease which leaves them struggling for breath are raising awareness of the Lovejoy-Waud and Mark Waud were diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) at the ages of 52 and 59, respectively. Their father Bernard Waud died from the condition when he was 50 years old. Mrs Lovejoy-Waud, from Goole, said more than 30 years after her father's death there was still no cure for the disease. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust said the "rare" disease has an average life expectancy of between three-to five years after diagnosis and in the majority of cases, the cause was unknown. 'Can't breathe' Mark Waud was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in April 2024 and said he had 12 months to constant companion is a black bag containing a canister filled with life-saving the interview, the 60-year-old from Wakefield paused often to cough and sip water to lubricate his movement, like climbing the stairs, can trigger a "coughing fit to a stage where I'd literally induce a panic attack because you literally can't breath. It feels like somebody's sat on your chest," he receiving his diagnosis, he said: "It wasn't too much of a shock, because my sister had been diagnosed two years earlier." Coughing up blood His sister Joanne Lovejoy-Waud sought medical advice after coughing up blood. On receiving the diagnosis she said "as we (Nicola Lovejoy-Ward) were driving home, we felt numb". Like her brother, Joanne Loveday-Waud is dependant on oxygen. "I can't remember breathing normally without it. It's a way of life," she said.A tube attached to her nostrils fills her lungs with liquid oxygen. "I can feel the cold oxygen passing through my nose. It (the tubes) makes my nose and behind my ears sore. It's uncomfortable at first, but you get used to it."The 55-year-old was active, but the progressive disease dictates how she will live the remainder of her life. "I can't walk more than 10m (32ft) without oxygen.""The worst thing about this disease is the anxiety when people are looking at you and staring while you've got your oxygen on," she added. Nicola Lovejoy-Waud and her wife are organising an annual event called Picnic in the Park in West Park, Goole on 1 June to help raise awareness of IPF."We know that not many people have heard of pulmonary fibrosis, not a lot of people know what the Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust do. So, we raise awareness to promote and gain funding."Peter Bryce chair of Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust said more than 6,000 people die from PF each year in the UK. The symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue and a persistent dry cough."I do not know why there is so little awareness of this dreadful condition. "The number of people living with PF is considerably less than some lung conditions, but as the prognosis is so poor, it should have wider concern," he added. 'Black cloud' There are thought to be 200 different causes of PF, including siblings have a form of PF known as idiopathy - which means cause Lovejoy-Waud is being assessed for a lung transplant and was aware of the long transplant waiting Mr Waud, who has liquid morphine for pain control, said because of the risks involved with a transplant he was "undecided".For Joanne's wife Nicola, the emotional trauma of having two relatives with a life limiting condition is hard to said: "It's like a black cloud hanging over us because you don't know when that time is going to come."Ultimately, I'll have two funerals to attend. One being my wife and one being my brother-in-law," she added. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
