Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s Post

Today's Portrait of PF comes from Kara. === My Dad passed away in August of 2022. Just two days before he went into the hospital, we had gotten back from a week's vacation on the beach in Carolina Beach, North Carolina. Our whole family (my parents, my family, my two sisters and their families, so 16 of us total) were there, and my Dad's favorite place to be was with his 8 grandchildren. I drove my parents down and back from NJ, and it sounds silly, but I'm happy I had that extra time with him. My Dad seems to be with us all of the time, and we often share stories of something that happened or a picture that came up that made us think of him. I also ran a marathon in December 2023, raising money in his name for PFF. He had been at my two previous marathons, and I know he was with me that day too. If and when I run another marathon, I will definitely raise money for PFF again. And I'm happy to share my family's story with others. This is a truly awful disease, but hopefully together we can continue to raise awareness and money for research to help others who are going through it.

Cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue are the most common symptoms of PF.

"Pulmonary fibrosis awareness month is very important to me because I lost my aunt to it and I am a lung transplant recipient because of it. I participate to bring awareness to the disease and the importance of it’s awareness to encourage testing, advocacy and foster community among all who are affected." Want to strike the lung pose and share your message with the PF community? Submit your lung pose at https://lnkd.in/ggXC3rY9

Today’s Portrait of PF comes from Lindsay. === Honestly, every moment with my mom, Mariann, was special. I loved our Saturdays spent running errands and getting lunch together. The simple tasks of everyday life were the most awesome when we were doing them together. I talk about my mom daily — sometimes just to my dog! I have her pictures up, I tell stories about her, I reminisce. My aunts, cousins, and nieces all love to talk about our memories of her. I try to make her proud every day, and make each breath count! Moving forward, I try to participate in PFF Hill Day every year, and I have become a “go to” for other friends and family who have questions about a PF diagnosis and need some information and resources. I am happy to point them to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation!I also repost the 30 Facts in 30 Days on social media during Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month. Plus, I’m putting together a team for the virtual walk day this year - Miles in Mariann’s Memory! My message to others who have lost a loved one is that it’s tough, and it hurts, but you’re not alone. The community is, sadly, large but we are supportive and caring. And for me, continuing to fight and help others has been healing.

Pulmonary fibrosis is not a specific disease. It's the general term that describes interstitial lung diseases.

As we kick off our 30 Facts In 30 Days series, let's start with the basics: What is pulmonary fibrosis?

💙💚 SEPTEMBER IS PULMONARY FIBROSIS AWARENESS MONTH 💙💚 Download one of these images and post it on your Facebook or Instagram to tell the world what pulmonary fibrosis means to you. Use the hashtag #PFMonth or #BlueUp4PF to raise awareness with us. All month long, we'll be posting your stories and sharing facts about pulmonary fibrosis. Visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org/pfam to learn what you can do to get involved and join the movement.

PF Awareness Month begins tomorrow! One of the ways you can participate is by hosting an online fundraiser. Have you ever considered supporting the PF community but were unsure how to start? Our video, "How to create a Facebook fundraiser for the PFF," is the perfect place to start. This video will guide you through the process of setting up a Facebook fundraiser for the PFF, making it super easy and fun to support the cause. View more info here: https://lnkd.in/g5SV_GXp

💚💙 PULMONARY FIBROSIS AWARENESS MONTH BEGINS TOMORROW! 💚💙 We are still accepting submissions from the PF community to highlight on social media. Here are the ways you can participate. All links and more information are available at pulmonaryfibrosis.org/pfam ✔️ 30 Facts in 30 Days: Every day at 11:00 a.m. central, we’ll be posting a fact about PF on social media. 💙 Portraits of PF: Submissions are open! We welcome everyone in the PF community to share their stories as a part of our "Portraits of Pulmonary Fibrosis" series on social media. These stories are shared on Facebook and Instagram to help raise awareness and to let others know that they are not alone. Stories are shared each day at 1:00 p.m. central. 📷 Lung Pose: Strike the new lung pose! Last year’s popular lung pose is back. Submit your lung pose to the PFF, and we’ll drop it into the official PFAM 2024 template to share on social media. 🌃 #BlueUp4PF: Is there a building or a landmark in your community that can light up blue? Ask the management to see if the building can go blue for PFAM! We want lightings in all 50 states — Can you help us achieve that goal? 💻 Join the ILD Day webinar: On Wednesday, September 18, the PF community will celebrate the fourth annual ILD Day! This year, you can join ILD Day by registering for a very special webinar presentation called “The Journey to Diagnosis: Process, evaluation, and your care team.” The one-hour presentation will include a panel of experts. Registration is open. 👟 Walk on September 28 for National Walk Day: The PFF Walk unites the community in raising funds and awareness for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. Join us as we walk together toward a cure virtually during Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month! Bring the spirit of the PFF Walk to your own community. Gather your family and friends for a walk at the location of your choosing. Register for yourself or start a team today! Registration is free.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month begins on Sunday! To raise awareness, download one or more of these graphics and tell the world what PFAM means to you. Use the hashtag #PFMonth and #pulmonaryfibrosis 💚💙