“I thank my donor every day for this gift”: Member Laura shares her lung transplant story

Meet LaurCT, an active 2015-2016 Team of Advisors alum living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). She underwent a left lung transplant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston in January and recently shared her experience with us. How are you feeling these days?  I am feeling great. I’ve had a couple bumps in the road… Continue reading “I thank my donor every day for this gift”: Member Laura shares her lung transplant story

Patients as Partners: Christel on “finding your tribe”

Today, we’re sharing the final piece of the Patients as Partners series from Christel, who’s living with type 1 diabetes. Christel has relied on several of the Partnership Principles including respect, communication, and shared responsibility throughout her journey. Below, see what she says about connecting with others who know what she’s going through and discovering… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Christel on “finding your tribe”

Patients as Partners: Doug on learning about himself through others

Next up in our Partnership Principles series is Team of Advisors member Doug (ducksixty). A writer and former actor, Doug tapped into his creative side and has shared a personal essay about Steve, a neighbor with fibromyalgia who unknowingly helped him realize something about his own experience with depression. Check out his story below and… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Doug on learning about himself through others

Patients as Partners: How Phyllis is bringing the patient perspective to future doctors

Team of Advisors member Phyllis is living with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) as well as Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In the latest edition of of our Partnership Principles series, she tells us how she works with med school students at the University of Pennsylvania in a patient shadowing program. The goal is to help the next generation… Continue reading Patients as Partners: How Phyllis is bringing the patient perspective to future doctors

Patients as Partners: Member Laura on launching a PF support group

Over the past few months, the Team of Advisors has been sharing how they use the Partnership Principles in their personal health journeys. Laura, who’s living with IPF, recently sat down with us to talk about the New Britain PF Support Group she launched in Connecticut, and how important it is to have a community… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Member Laura on launching a PF support group

Patients as Partners: Cyrena talks empathy and assertiveness

We’ve been talking to 2015-2016 Team of Advisors about the Partnership Principles they put together and how they use them in their personal health journeys. Next up is Cyrena, who’s living with bipolar II and lupus and recently completed her PhD in pharmacology. Below, she talks about managing multiple conditions, getting on the same page… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Cyrena talks empathy and assertiveness

Patients as Partners: John and David share their clinical trial experiences

We’ve been hearing from members of the Team of Advisors about how they’ve used the Partnership Principles in their health journeys. Recently, we sat down with John (Dockstoy), living with ALS, and David (Davidgewirtz), who’s living with lung cancer. John and David are both interested in research and have been involved in a few clinical trials. Below,… Continue reading Patients as Partners: John and David share their clinical trial experiences

Patients as Partners: An open letter from Craig to the “normals”

We’ve been hearing from members of the Team of Advisors about how they’ve used the Partnership Principles in their health journeys. For Craig (woofhound), who’s living with fibromyalgia, it’s important to forge strong relationships with “normals,” or people who don’t know what it’s like to live with a chronic condition. By talking openly about illness, Craig believes,… Continue reading Patients as Partners: An open letter from Craig to the “normals”

Patients as Partners: Gus and Maria talk partnering with your caregiver

The 2015-2016 Team of Advisors recently introduced the Partnership Principles. They’ve been sharing personal stories about these principles in action to kick-off conversations on partnering with all sorts of people — medical students, clinical trial coordinators, and “normals.” Today, Team of Advisors member Gus along with his wife and caregiver, Maria, share about their special relationship and how… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Gus and Maria talk partnering with your caregiver

Patients as Partners: Member Peggy on the diagnosis journey (Part I)

Last week, Team of Advisors member Jeff kicked off a series of conversations about the Partnership Principles with his thoughts on partnering better with your care team. Today, Peggy (peggyznd) digs deeper into one area where strong relationships are key: getting diagnosed.  Peggy draws from her own experience with kidney cancer and breast cancer to… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Member Peggy on the diagnosis journey (Part I)