Family has been Ken Friess’s lifeline since he was diagnosed with a rare, incurable lung disease.
Friess was joined by his family to participate in Winnipeg’s first ever Walk for Pulmonary Fibrosis at Assiniboine Park on Saturday.
“The support here in Manitoba is fantastic,” said Friess. “I’m very lucky to have that because it’s a difficult disease to cope with, and the more support you have, the easier the journey is.”
MATTHEW FRANK / FREE PRESS
Ken Friess (left) and his daughter, Kristin, walked together during Winnipeg’s first Walk for Pulmonary Fibrosis event at Assiniboine Park on Saturday.
Friess, 66, was diagnosed with the disease in June 2020.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he developed a cough while working as a salesperson. Thinking it would be a routine recovery, Friess and his family were devastated when he found out he had the disease.
He said it took a long time to get a correct diagnosis because doctors have to sort through more than 150 similar diseases.
Pulmonary Fibrosis attacks the lungs, causing irreversible scarring, according to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.
The disease leaves a person’s lungs unable to provide oxygen to the rest of the body and causes a distinct crackling sound when breathing. There is no cure with a lung transplant being the only way to overcome it.
More than 1,000 people suffer with the disease in Manitoba, according to the foundation’s statistics.
While Friess’s condition has continued to deteriorate, he said there’s a good chance he’s eligible for the double lung transplant he needs.
Despite needing an oxygen tank to function, Friess still wanted push through the pain to walk with his family.
“The family is a big part of this journey,” said Friess as his daughter, Kristen, put an arm around his shoulder.
“You absolutely need their support. It’s critical.”
Kristen Friess said her whole family was impacted when her father was diagnosed.
“It’s been really tough, but we’re very, very grateful for the family we have,” said Kristen. “My dad is the most important person in our family. He’s the glue that keeps us all together and we’re with him every step of the way.”
Kristen hopes the event will bring more awareness and inform Winnipeggers about the disease.
She said the event has been important because it showed her that their family is not alone.
“When you’re at an event like this, (dad’s) around people who are also impacted by the disease and it brings a sense of community,” Kristen said.
More than 300 people attended the fundraising walk, raising more than $30,000 for the foundation.
matthew.frank@freepress.mb.ca