30 Days of PH: Single Mom

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by Jen Cueva |

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Day 6 of 30 Days of PH⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Topic: Single Mom ⁣⠀ This is Monica’s story @evilqueenmoni74⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ In 2004 I was a single mom of my 6 1/2-year-old daughter, Sadie. I made an appointment due to a pain on an ovary which lead us down a crazy slope that went from “you have a cyst” to “you have Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. I was told that I only had 3-5 years left even with treatment and that I wouldn’t see my daughter grow up so I needed to get my affairs in order. I had to stop working and I worried about how I was going to support my daughter without asking for help. I was then diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH). I’m now on three life-saving medications to help prolong my life.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I always made sure to keep her busy like putting her in dance. In a way seeing her dance was the greatest medication ever. I would keep a smile on my face and not show my pain. But, eventually, we had to move back in with my parents because my symptoms were getting. But, I made sure Sadie had the best childhood possible. We made Disneyland our ”no sick/stress zone”. We watch movies and eat late-night snacks while laughing all night.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ To think that I was told I would never see my daughter grow up. Now, almost 16 years later, Sadie is a couple of months away from graduating with her Bachelor's in Psychology. Sadie has been my rock through all these years and I wake up each day thanking God for allowing me to continue seeing her grow. I have beat all of the odds so far and technically that cyst saved my life and allowed me to spend each and every day with my daughter and family.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I feel I've been able to stay strong and positive through all of this because of my daughter, family, friends, faith, and my PHamily. Sadie and I see life as an adventure and we still have an amazing life to live. Even if we have to take it step-by-step each day and stop to breathe. We have learned that life should not be rushed but enjoyed. Every memory we make each day is a memory that will last a lifetime in her heart. I believe just because we have a terminal illness, doesn't mean that we cannot go out and live life to the fullest with our loved ones.⁣⠀ ⁣

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About the Author

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Jen Cueva Jen Cueva lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and mini schnauzer, Zoe. Jen worked in nursing before the script changed upon her diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH), group 1, in 2005. Advocacy has been essential to her life. Her passion is to instill hope and remind others in the PH community that they are not alone. To do this, she serves as a forum moderator for Pulmonary Hypertension News and in her weekly column she delves into the roller coaster of emotions that accompany PH. It is powerful and meaningful to her to have this opportunity to play a role in helping others become more informed and educated so they are more empowered in their journey. Together, we PHight stronger!

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30DaysofPH, awareness, Remodulin

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