The Month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Therefore, today I will be interviewing licensed master social worker and behavioral health therapist Shawn Daniels. This segment is very important and much needed for people who are chronically ill because we often times are so focused on our physical health, and we tend to forget the importance of our mental health which is not good because our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Shawn will be talking to us today about the importance of mental health and how to seek counseling if needed. If you like what you hear like, share and donate . Thank you all for your support!

Today, I will be interviewing a friend of mine and chief meteorologist for Nashville News 2 , Danielle Breezy.

Danielle and I met at a Lung Force Walk for the Nashville American Lung Association a few years back. She is a huge advocate for lung disease /lung cancer. Today she is going to share with us how she feels regarding the importance of the fight against lung disease/lung cancer.

Today, I will be interviewing Sunil Kokal. Sunil resides near Toronto, Canada ,and was initially diagnosed with Non Specific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP).

Sunil is going to share his raw and candid story about his journey with ILD and how he manages his symptoms. Also, he will give us some tips if he has any on what may help you all out there to live life more easily as we battle our diseases.

Today, I will be interviewing a friend of mine, Annabelle Kim. Annabelle is from Los Angeles, California, however she resides in Edmonds, Washington.

Annabelle was diagnosed with autoimmune lung related interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis in February of 2023 in her third trimester of her pregnancy. However, on February 7th of this year at the University of Washington, she got approved to receive a double lung transplant.

Today, she is going to share her raw and candid story about her journey with ILD and how she manages her symptoms and also share how she is feeling awaiting a double lung transplant.

Today I will be interviewing Nikkie Foster from Dayton, Ohio. Nikkie was diagnosed with Non Specific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP) back in December of 2015. However, in January of 2020 she received the most precious gift, two new lungs from a selfless donor. Nikkie is going to share her raw and candid story about her journey with NSIP and how she managed her symptoms and also share how she is feeling now since receiving her double lung transplant!

( Donations towards The Silent Battle Podcast to support operating cost are greatly appreciated )

Today I will be interviewing Dr. Victor Thannickal. Dr. Thannickal is a Professor of Medicine and the Harry B. Greenberg Chair in the Department of Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine. He has also served on the faculty of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Michigan, and Tufts University School of Medicine, where he completed his fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.

Dr. Thannickal’s research is focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung repair and regeneration that will lead to new and more effective treatments for pulmonary fibrosis.

Today, I will be interviewing Cherie Acosta. Cherie resides in Houston, TX ,and she battles Sjogrens, RA, Raynaud’s, Interstitial Cystitis, and Morphea. She is a retired costume design professor, and she completed an exhibit called Beautiful Affliction that looks at the invisibility of disease (autoimmune disease) through visual arts .The exhibit was in the Houston Health Museum ,New York, and Paris France. Below is a link to view the exhibit. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=xYPK2F0U7cs&fbclid=IwAR2Gg8hVPnJYz6wG9gMuRC3xM-EU7rcVuH_1gVo0VMvtb2xEu65Lg_2QdLs

Today, I will be interviewing Joseph Thompson. Joseph is from Elmwood, TN, however he resides in Carthage ,TN. He was diagnosed with Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonia which is a form of Interstitial Lung Disease and was later re diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.. As Joseph’s disease progressed he ended up needing a double lung transplant. So ,on November 19,2023 , he received two new lungs from a selfless donor, and he is here today to share his story and give us an update on how he is doing.