Living & Breathing

7,000 diseases - each too rare to attract much public attention or medical research - afflict a total of 25 million people in Europe and 27 million in North America today. These "orphan diseases," little understood by the general public and even by most doctors, bring to those afflicted by them a long and bewildering medical struggle, as well as psychological and social challenges.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM for short, is one such orphan disease which afflicts thousands of women in the world today, gradually degrading their lung capacity - usually over a period of years - and making breathing itself harder and harder due to the development of cysts in the lungs. Often appearing in a first pregnancy, LAM is a shattering disruption of completely normal lives. To date, there is no treatment except the use of an oxygen tank as breathing becomes harder; ultimately, a lung transplant is needed.

We see how three women afflicted by LAM -- Amy, Havi and Corine -- from three different countries, cope with this chronic disease. The difficulties, uncertainties and isolation are relieved by the measures of joy that are still to be found in life, even under these circumstances. Against all expectations, the disease becomes a great battle that leads these women to reinvent themselves and their lives with greater meaning than before, and even happiness. They teach us profound lessons about what is important in our own lives as we all cope with mortality and, sometimes, illness – orphan or otherwise.