No Restrictions for this Father Suffering from Restrictive Lung Disease, Pulmonary Fibrosis

Does restrictive lung disease always restrict the dads it impacts? ?PF Warriors Founder Bill Vick will tell you it doesn’t have to.? We spoke with Bill and his daughters, Lori and Cory, and got the inside scoop on growing up Vick with a dad who has lived his life with boundless energy and seemingly endless positivity -- despite pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

Bill Vick , has been anything but restricted by his diagnosis with the restrictive lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis (PF), more than a decade ago. An accomplished military Veteran, a sales leader, and a lifelong athlete, Bill was training for a triathlon when the diagnosis came. He went on to complete that race and many others.

There are two main broad categories of lung disease – restrictive and obstructive. Restrictive diseases, like PF, make it difficult to breathe in (inhale) fully and deeply to fill the lungs with oxygen. Obstructive diseases make it difficult to fully breathe out (exhale) and empty used oxygen (carbon dioxide) from the lungs.

When Bill describes his career as a Marine, a sales leader at Revlon and Gucci and later an executive recruiter, he pauses. He says his job as a father has been the most important and counts his active life with daughters, Cory and Lori, as his greatest accomplishment. “I’m not sure I can make good better,” said Vick as he bragged about his now adult daughters.

PF, known best by the way it scars and shrinks the lungs, carries with it limited life expectancy and reduced quality of life, something Vick has fought against and with a strict adherence to a healthy diet and exercise, he has far surpassed the average survival with more than triple what would be expected for patients like him.

Bill’s two daughters followed in his footsteps into the world of sales with his daughter, Lori, excelling in a career as a regional manager at Chanel and his daughter, Cory, in various positions in medical sales.

Bill called Cory his “buddy” describing when she was a young teen when they were distance running partners getting up each morning at 4:30 a.m. to get to the pool for laps.? Even the cold, crisp water of the pool in the early morning didn’t deter Cory from spending that time with her dad.

“Growing up, our adventures together were some of the highlights of my life,” said Cory. Whether swimming or running together, digging fossils, hiking or visiting museums, she said there were regular opportunities to strengthen their father-daughter bond.

Cory and her sister, Lori, both have fond memories of their family camping trips on the beach filled with clam digging or “clamming” as she called it, and cooking over an open campfire. “These simple experiences instilled in me a love for nature and a sense of adventure I carry with me to this day,” Cory said. Lori added, “…I truly believe those adventures led into what became an absolutely one in a million childhood.”

“Life was good,” Bill said.

When Bill was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2011, he didn’t believe it. It was difficult for him and his, Patti, to break the news to their daughters. While Cory and Lori were stunned as they saw their father as so strong and fit, they knew he could overcome the obstacles it represented. They joined Bill in his fight, encouraging him and standing by him.

On Father’s Day, Cory and Lori are grateful that their dad has lived more than a decade with the deadly disease, defying the odds with optimism.

Today, as Bill talks often with others suffering from PF, inspiring them and encouraging them to live an active life. He cheers for the organization he founded, PF Warriors , and encourages patients and caregivers to join so they, too, can remain as proactive and knowledgeable as possible.??

On this Father’s Day weekend, Bill looks back with a smile - grateful for another Father’s Day with his daughters. He believes in them, and they in him.? “I have my two girls,” Bill said, choking up.? The former Marine in him sometimes shows his strong and tough side.? Lori and Cory clearly bring out his softer side.

Bill has advice for other fathers facing PF.? “[It’s been] 13 years since diagnosis and I’m doing ?well. One lesson:? Love others as much as you love yourself. Focus on the good and give them the benefit of the doubt.”

?His daughters are, no doubt, his biggest fans.

“He is my hero. I am grateful that he is still on earth to love and inspire,” Lori said.

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