Laura Dern Fights for Lung Disease Awareness in Mom's Memory

The Harrowing Journey of Diagnosis and Advocacy

Laura Dern's commitment to raising awareness about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) springs from her personal experience—one fraught with misdiagnosis and pain. In a recent interview, she recounted how her mother, the iconic actress Diane Ladd, was diagnosed late in her illness journey, leading to a sense of urgency that drives Dern's current efforts.

“We didn't even know something called IPF existed,” Dern shared. That ignorance is part of what fuels her new initiative, Beyond the Scars, partnered with pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, aimed at enlightening the public about this often-overlooked lung disease.

“They turned to me and said, 'Be gentle with your mother. That's it. Over and out. There's nothing you can do,'” Dern recalled of the heart-wrenching conversations with doctors after Ladd's diagnosis in 2018.

Understanding IPF: The Facts

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and irreversible lung disease that results in the scarring of lung tissue, making breathing increasingly difficult. Symptoms often mimic those of aging or less severe respiratory issues, causing many patients to be misdiagnosed at critical stages of their illness.

• Common symptoms include:
• Shortness of breath
• Chronic coughing
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite

Such misdiagnoses can delay necessary treatment and drastically impact patient outcomes. Dern's mission highlights the need for better education and awareness about this disease.

The Advocacy Journey

Dern's advocacy isn't merely about raising awareness; it's deeply personal. She vividly recalls how Ladd's symptoms were attributed to conditions like acid reflux and allergies, with many professionals dismissing her concerns. “They would say, 'Were you a smoker?' And she would say no. And they'd say, 'Well then it's not lung disease,'” Dern explained.

It wasn't until Ladd sought further care, pushing back against bleak prognoses, that they found a supportive pulmonologist who helped construct a viable care plan. “There were myriad options to support her lungs,” Dern shared, illustrating the importance of patient advocacy.

Emotional Scars and Healing Through Words

During their time together, walks became a vital source of connection and comfort for Dern and Ladd. Those walks not only provided physical exercise but also fostered essential conversations about difficult topics including mortality. “On the first day, I asked, 'So, Mom, what do you want to talk about?' And she said, 'Death,'” Dern recalled with a mixture of sorrow and understanding.

This exchange paved the way for deeper discussions in her mother's final months—conversations that eventually contributed to their joint memoir, *Honey, Baby, Mine*, published in 2023. Dern emphasized that Ladd believed in the psychological aspects of healing, stating, “She really believed in the power of words and, therefore, the power of medicine in healing emotional scars.”

The Importance of Support: A Call to Action

As a caregiver, Dern has witnessed firsthand the isolation many feel after a diagnosis. She urges the community to understand that advocating for oneself or a loved one is essential. “As a caregiver, it's my opportunity to remind people that we need to be the ones to say, 'Hold on, how do you know what the timetable is? How do you know this individual patient that you met 10 minutes ago from one x-ray?'”

Through *Beyond the Scars*, Dern encourages individuals to arm themselves with knowledge and seek clarity. “Because I definitely was brave in some areas, but I wasn't brave enough to ask, like, what's it gonna look like at the end? And how do I prepare?”

Looking Ahead: A Commitment to Advocacy

With the launch of the *Beyond the Scars* initiative, Dern plans to remain a steadfast voice in the fight against lung disease. She acknowledges that her mother's experience, filled with both anguish and triumph, serves as a touching reminder of the importance of vigilance and compassion in navigating healthcare.

“I look forward to staying committed to the advocacy,” she affirmed. The journey toward healing—both physical and emotional—is long, but Dern's relentless spirit aims to transform pain into positive change in the lives of others battling IPF.