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In Feb. 2019, I pitched a story about Valley Fever. Now, it's here. In our new @scifri Methods feature with @KVPR, we take you to the Central Valley of California (my hometown) to meet the patients and scientists battling this fungal disease in the dust. https://methods.sciencefriday.com/valley-fever
The American West has some of the fastest growing cities in the US. It’s got a huge construction and ag hub. It grapples with drought, dust storms, and drying farms. And it is home to millions who could be exposed to Valley Fever. https://methods.sciencefriday.com/valley-fever
I had known about Valley Fever from growing up in the Central Valley and from my mom, who got it when she was a teen packing onions on a farm. When she told me about her experience, I was captivated by this fungus. Just a single breath is all it takes to get Valley Fever.
It's commonly misdiagnosed as the flu or pneumonia. Old scarring in the lungs can be confused for lung cancer. The symptoms and outcomes run the gamut—fever, rash, lung scarring, seizures, lost limbs, lifetime medication, death.
Within these drastically different cases lies a disparity issue. More severe cases persists more in Native Americans, Filipinos, and African Americans—like Arthur Charles, a Valley Fever patient in Bakersfield. His life is profiled in the new story. https://methods.sciencefriday.com/valley-fever
Today on @scifri, we'll be digging more into the medical mystery of Valley Fever, and hear from the people it impacts. @EineKleineKerry @KVPR tells us about her years reporting and new treatments ahead! Tune in now! https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/valley-fever/
Writing stories about home always hits a little differently. Thanks @scifri for letting me tell it. So many people were involved in this project. @EineKleineKerry @KVPR was instrumental in providing a well of on-the-ground reporting. You MUST see her work: https://www.kvpr.org/people/kerry-klein
. @Arieloquent @jentunefenwick @nadjao @DannyD_310 @bechter @el_skootro all believed that there was a story here, and helped me jumpstart this whole crazy adventure (even when I doubted myself) 
. @cintagliata encouraged me to make my “debut” as a radio producer, making a new medium way less scary. Then @ElahFeder, with her magical audio direction, somehow made me sound amazing on the airwaves. (You two gave me the Kool-Aid and I think I'm hooked) https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/valley-fever/
. @AlexaLim22 and @iraflatow orchestrated emotional patient stories, fungal facts, and disease treatments into a radio masterpiece. Go listen if you missed it earlier! https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/valley-fever/
Dear friend and master of design @dpeterschmidt made this piece shine like the California sun cutting through a hazy day. I mean... look at this beaut! https://methods.sciencefriday.com/valley-fever
And most importantly my mom, who made her radio debut and was the inspiration for all of this. Thank you for all the late nights listening to me cry about writing pains, reporting mishaps, and wanting to tell your story so badly 
https://methods.sciencefriday.com/valley-fever
https://methods.sciencefriday.com/valley-fever
