In 2003 my mom was diagnosed with a disease we had never heard of - Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. She was very late in the disease (after having been mis-diagnosed for many years). She was given 2 years to live. Due to her positive attitude and our way of attacking any illness or medical problem she had, we had 6 wonderful years together. Shortly before her death, I joined an online PF support group for caregivers. We had spent nearly 6 years doing the PF journey alone. It was so nice to have someone else to talk to who knew what I was going through. Mom passed away a month and a half later and my support group friends saved me. They got me through the rough patch. They also gave me a reason to stay active in the PF community. I was able to talk to other new caregivers and help them through this journey. The night mom died, I had vowed that I would help patients and caregivers and that her fight and her death would not be in vain. Since then, I have become the owner/moderator of many online support groups myself. I stay active in the PF community, speaking at public events - learning at public events. I am active in our local face to face group as well. I am happy to be able to help others - patients and caregivers - through this process. The past 12 years have proven to be an invaluable education, not only in PF, but also in helping others.