In Memory of Francesco ''Frank'' Di Genua

Thank you

Tuesday 18th Jul Hi, Thank you to all of you who donated to the lung foundation in memory of my father, Francesco/Franco/Frank Di Genua. Share

My dad’s lung disease

Saturday 20th May Hi, I  wanted to let you know that my dad died from a form of pulmonary fibrosis ( progressive scarring of his lungs). This is not a smoking related disease, my father didn’t smoke. The cause of this lung disease  is currently poorly  understood, however, in my dad’s case , it is likely that during his lifetime he was exposed to something that he inhaled ( for an indeterminate length of time) and this triggered a pathological process that resulted in the pulmonary fibrosis. This may have happened when he worked on the land in Italy as a child and youth, ,in his apprenticeship/work as a mechanic and panel beater, or even as a handyman . Exposure to substances , known and unknown , appears to result in the type of pulmonary fibrosis my dad was thought to have , Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. This can grumble on undetected for a variable period of time without any symptoms (as was the case for my father who was diagnosed in 2019, but was asymptomatic until 2022) and then something as innocuous  as a viral infection can result in a precipitous decline in their lung function. My father went from being a very independent and active 89 year to requiring continuous oxygen over a period of 7 months. There was essentially nothing that could be done to stop his decline and he died with severe breathlessness that interfered with even the most basic of tasks, including eating and drinking. Research in this condition  is poorly funded and The Lung Foundation is trying to address this deficiency by providing funds for research that it raises through donations. Having watched my dad die breathless I wouldn’t wish a similar end of life for anyone else. Please give generously.  Share