The Silent Battle

Today, I would like to introduce you all too Alaina Muckell.Alaina is a good friend of mine who resides in Newton, Connecticut. Alaina was born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Alaina and I met in Durham, NC at Duke University Hospital about 7 years ago. We both needed transplants, but I wasn’t as sick as she was at the time we met. I was just beginning my process of seeking out a lung transplant center that would be right for me, however Alaina had chosen Duke and was on their list and awaiting her new lungs at the time we met.Alaina received her new precious lungs in 2018 ,6 years ago, and she is doing phenomenal! So today, she is going to share with you all some facts about CF and what it's like being a CF patient .She will also be talking about her lung transplant journey.This episode is aired on Pandora, Spotify, and Amazon. If you have questions or comments or interested in being part of The Silent Battle Podcast, please email me at thesilentbattle2022@gmail.com

Today, I will be interviewing Heather MacKenzie. Heather is originally from Detroit, Michigan, however she resides in Denver, Colorado. She was diagnosed with Acute and Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. Her condition is very rare and is shared only by 2 to 3 people in 100,000 each year.Today, Heather is going to share her raw and candid story about her journey with Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis which is a form of Interstitial Lung Disease and how she manages her symptoms.(Please like and share what you hear. The Silent Battle Podcast is aired on Pandora, Spotify, Amazon, and Google Podcast. Donations to The Silent Battle Podcast through cashapp or paypal are greatly appreciated as well)Thank you!

Today, I will be interviewing Deb Schroeder. Deb is originally from California, but she has been living in Utah for the past 30 years and she has RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis )Interstitial Lung Disease.Today, she is going to share with us her raw and candid story about her journey with RA ILD and how she manages her symptoms. Also, she will give us some tips if she has any on what may help you all out there to live life more easily as we battle our lung and autoimmune diseases.

Today I will be interviewing Robin Fountain who is a Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration. I know a lot of you out there have had a lot of questions surrounding applying for disability and the process of getting Medicare. So, Robin is here today to help answer some of these general questions. Below I have also listed some important helpful links to information online on the ssa.gov website she shared .If you like what you hear, like and share. The Silent Battle Podcast is aired on Pandora, Spotify, Amazon, and Google Podcast. Donations to The Silent Battle Podcast through cashapp or paypal are greatly appreciated as wellThank you and Enjoy!Compassionate Allowances:Compassionate Allowances Website Home Page | SSASocial Security DisabilityDisability | SSASupplemental Security Income (SSI)Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | SSAMedicarePlan for Medicare | SSATicket to Work:What is Social Security's Ticket to Work Program? | Choose Work! - Ticket to Work - Social Security (ssa.gov)Your Ticket to Work (July 2020) (ssa.gov)Field Office Locator:Field Office Locator | SSADisability Starter Kit:Adult Disability Starter Kit (ssa.gov)Working While Disabled: How We Can HelpWorking While Disabled: How We Can Help (ssa.gov)Social Security Disability Benefits – Number of Credits Needed for Disability BenefitsBenefits Planner | Social Security Credits and Benefit Eligibility | SSAmy Social Security Accountmy Social Security | SSA

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 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 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 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