Laura Dern is keeping a heartfelt promise to her late mother, Diane Ladd, by raising awareness about a rare and deadly lung disease.
Ladd was diagnosed in 2018 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a terminal illness that scars the lungs and progressively impairs breathing. At the time, doctors gave her only three to six months to live. But Ladd defied expectations, surviving more than seven years, passing away peacefully at home in November 2025 with Dern by her side.
“The diagnosis left both of us searching for answers,” Dern told PEOPLE. “She never wanted anyone to have to naively be in pain without answers. Just too much time was spent like that for both of us.”
Now, Dern is honoring her mother’s wish by raising awareness through the Beyond the Scars campaign, in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim. “I made a promise to my mom that I would continue to honor her legacy,” Dern said. “She wanted to help other families going through an ILD [interstitial lung disease].”
Dern remembers Ladd’s fiery spirit, both on-screen and in life. “That same fire she had as an actor was how she lived her life,” Dern recalled. “She became a fearless advocate for her own health.”
Reflecting on her role as a caregiver, Dern admitted the early days were emotionally overwhelming. “At the beginning, I was traumatized,” she said. “I thought, ‘There’s nothing I can do. She has a few months to live.’”
With guidance from her mother’s doctors, Dern helped Ladd develop a care plan to maintain lung function. They took short walks together, starting as brief strolls and gradually building to 15-minute walks, turning each session into a time for conversation and deep connection.
“These walks became a chance to really get to know each other on a deeper level,” Dern said. “She wanted other families to see that too.”
Ladd also wanted her story shared publicly. “If it can help one person, it matters,” Dern recalled her mother saying. “And now I’m doing it for her.”
Through Beyond the Scars, Dern hopes families facing similar diagnoses will find guidance, comfort, and hope, emphasizing that even small daily actions and shared moments can make a profound difference in living with IPF.
“Raising awareness is part of how we honor those we love,” Dern said. “My mom’s story deserves to be heard — and it can save lives.”
